Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the appellant currently suffers from bilateral hearing loss as a result of acoustic trauma in active duty service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining his Reserve service records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and assigned a 20 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, effective as of March 18, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss disability existed prior to service and did not undergo any chronic, identifiable increase during service. Therefore, it was less likely than not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not support entitlement to a rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Board has requested a VA examiner to determine if the Veteran's right ear hearing loss worsened during service and whether it was present prior to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hypertension are not related to his active service, including noise exposure. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for the residuals of a laceration of the left thumb, finding that new and material evidence had been received to reopen service connection for both left elbow epicondylitis and postoperative residuals of right elbow epicondylitis. The Veteran's bilateral elbow disabilities are found to be related to his service-connected left thumb disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and VA medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not related to his military service, including exposure to loud noise without protection. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board found the evidence in equipoise regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran entered service with a preexisting hearing loss disorder, but his separation examination did not show any aggravation of this condition during service. His claim for tinnitus is also supported by lay statements indicating continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's substantive appeal was not timely filed for his claim of service connection for a back disorder. The issue of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence showing impairment greater than Level I in the left ear.

The Board has determined that further medical examination and opinion are needed to resolve the claims for service connection for low back disability, pulmonary nodules, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, internal hemorrhoids, varicose veins of the lower extremities, eczema, left foot cold weather injury residuals, right foot plantar fasciitis, and right foot calcaneal fracture. The reasons provided are that there is no current evidence linking these conditions to service or any other basis for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both granted. The Board found that the Veteran had current symptoms of tinnitus, which he claimed to have experienced since service, and there was no evidence contradicting his report.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. The Veteran served as a combat pilot during World War II where he was exposed to loud noise. He currently has diagnosed sensorineural bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss for VA compensation purposes and his tinnitus did not begin during service or is otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss disability, as previous evaluations may not have captured recent changes in his condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence provided by the Veteran's representative.