Hearing loss Board decisions

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

The Veteran was granted a 10% rating for bilateral hearing loss from December 10, 2007 to May 11, 2008. Prior to this period and since then, he is not entitled to any compensation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted and is already in effect, thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss, and granted service connection based on direct evidence. Service connection for tinnitus was also granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by his service, including noise exposure during military service. The preponderance of evidence did not support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it, finding that there is new and material evidence to support the claim. The Board also found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss disability is related to in-service loud noise exposure.

The Veteran's BHL and tinnitus are found to be related to his active duty service, with the benefit of doubt resolving in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss is considered, along with his assertions regarding exposure during service, to determine whether it was incurred or aggravated therein.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as per VA standards. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, residuals of a back injury, right knee condition, left knee condition, right hip traumatic arthritis, left hip traumatic arthritis, right leg nerve damage, left leg nerve damage, right hallux malleus (hammertoes), and left hallux malleus. However, the claims are denied as service connection is not established for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that meets the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations. The Veteran does not currently meet the regulatory requirements for a disability at separation, and therefore cannot establish service connection by submitting evidence that his current disabilities are causally related to service.

The Veteran died with a combined disability rating of 70% due to macular degeneration, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is denied as the Veteran did not meet the requirement of having been rated totally disabled for at least 10 years immediately preceding death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as he does not have a current disability. The claim for an increased rating for right knee ACL tear is also denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is as likely as not incurred during his military service due to acoustic trauma from artillery exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his active service, including in-service acoustic trauma. As such, the appeal is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The claim for new and material evidence for bilateral hearing loss was also granted.