Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disorders are due to service, warranting service connection for each claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not presented, tinnitus was not shown to be related to service, and a skin condition on the hands was not found.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and compensable ratings, finding no evidence of entitlement to these benefits within a year before May 30, 2006. The claim for service connection for vertigo was remanded.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to missing service treatment records, inadequate VA examination opinions, and the need to obtain updated VA outpatient records and private audiologist records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and PTSD are likely due to noise exposure during service, and therefore grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss must be denied as there is no evidence of a disease or injury incurred during active duty, and the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to his service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and VA compensation examinations to determine if the Veteran has current disabilities related to his period of active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for another VA examination and further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current disabilities are at least as likely as not caused by in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board dismissed the appeals for both issues as they were already decided and no new evidence was submitted to reopen the right ear hearing loss claim.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not incurred in or related to his active military service.

The Board found that the appellant's right ear hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and a disability of the thoracolumbar spine. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was incurred in active service. His left ear hearing loss did not manifest until after service or be related to service. Tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The preponderance of evidence shows that the Veteran's current thoracolumbar spine disability did not manifest until many years after active service and is not related to complaints of back pain in service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and degenerative arthritis of the right elbow were denied as his conditions do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has decided in favor of the Veteran, granting service connection for bilateral hearing loss as a direct result of noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure in service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have chronic, identifiable conditions for back disorder, hip disorder, right knee disorder, hearing loss disability, or hypertension. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the current examination report does not adequately address these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the Veteran's current thoracolumbar strain is related to his in-service back pain. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a disability within the meaning of VA regulations.