Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is service-connected and rated at 10 percent.,Tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 6260.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is attributable to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in a previous VA examination and the need for further development of the Veteran's claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his service or any other condition. The issue of service connection will be reconsidered after this development.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is manifested by Level I hearing acuity in both ears based on the audiogram results from VA examinations and a private treatment record. The schedular criteria for an initial compensable rating have not been met or approximated.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss or a neck disability and peripheral neuropathy that are attributable to his active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of in-service hearing loss or tinnitus. The examiner noted that the Veteran did not have any significant noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent prior to October 13, 2006 and in excess of 40 percent beginning October 13, 2006 for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not cause his death from multiple blunt trauma due to falls. The underlying causes were unrelated to service.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, including noise exposure. The Board concurs with this determination based on the lack of evidence showing a nexus between in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his active military service and did not manifest within one year of discharge. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been manifested by no more than auditory acuity level I in the right ear and level VIII in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating prior to July 12, 2007, and a higher rating from July 12, 2007, for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss worsened during his active service, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The reduction of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss evaluation from 10 percent to noncompensable was proper, as his hearing improved and he no longer met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as 10 percent disabling prior to September 1, 2008. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating for this period.

The Board has determined that there is no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for hearing loss, as the submitted evidence does not provide a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has determined that the decision is being remanded due to incomplete records and requests for further development of the claims file.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, COPD, was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions and thus denied the claim for service connection.