Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the merits of the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The case must be remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the VA Form 9 concerning the denial of service connection for hearing loss and PTSD was timely filed. The appeal will continue on these issues.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was not incurred during active service and is not presumed due to exposure to noise. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation, as the onset of significant hearing loss occurred 22 years after discharge from service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an ear injury, finding that there is no evidence to support these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosed bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active military service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is manifested by hearing impairment corresponding to no worse than auditory acuity level V in the right ear and level IV in the left ear, resulting in a disability rating of 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 6100. The claim for an increased rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not considered to be related to his time in service, including any acoustic trauma he may have experienced during active duty. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection for this condition.

The Board found no evidence of current hearing loss in either ear and determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not related to service. As a result, the claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a proper VA audiological evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his time in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in service, as there was no evidence of such conditions during or immediately after his military service. The VA examiner opined that the more likely etiology for the Veteran's hearing loss was from industrial noise exposure rather than military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence supporting a relationship between his current diagnoses and his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, as well as his claim for a compensable evaluation for hearing loss in the left ear. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for cervical disc disease with headaches have been remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss as the Veteran's pre-existing condition did not worsen during his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of aggravation during service.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a medical examination to assess the effect of his hearing loss on his occupational functioning and daily activities.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether his pre-existing hearing loss was aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current hearing loss disability is considered a direct result of his military service, but there is no evidence showing it manifested within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is properly evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The RO must readjudicate the claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and consider the possibility of staged ratings if indicated by facts found.