Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The Veteran's preexisting bilateral hearing loss was found to have been aggravated during his military service, warranting service connection.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current bilateral hearing loss, given the Veteran's exposure to noise during service. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The claims of service connection for arthritis, low back disorder, and bilateral hearing loss were not reopened. The claim of service connection for tinnitus was granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for basal cell carcinoma, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are reasonably related to his military service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be causally related to service exposure, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case to schedule a VA audiometric examination for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, and to review additional evidence received at the Board.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. As such, these claims remain denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 0 percent, the minimum rating. The RO granted a 50 percent evaluation for PTSD effective October 21, 2003.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is considered to be incurred in active duty due to combat noise exposure. The Veteran also has a service-connected bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, which the Board finds more likely related to his diabetes mellitus type II with hypertension and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were aggravated during his active service, warranting service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for separate 10 percent ratings for tinnitus in each ear and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding no legal basis for such ratings given the current maximum schedular evaluations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence regarding his hearing loss and tinnitus, including a lack of adequate medical opinion on their etiology. The Veteran needs to undergo another VA examination to determine if his current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Veteran's representative requested a videoconference hearing, but the Veteran may have been confused or frustrated due to incorrect communication from the RO. The Board is requesting clarification on whether the Veteran still wants a videoconference hearing and scheduling it if desired.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus were denied as there was no verified in-service stressor for PTSD, no evidence of noise exposure related to service for hearing loss or tinnitus, and insufficient medical evidence linking the current conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's hypertension is service-connected as secondary to PTSD. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been established, and the Veteran's right knee conditions have initial ratings of 10 percent each.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for bilateral hearing loss, neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and neuropathy of the left upper extremity. The claim for special monthly pension was also withdrawn.,PTSD was not diagnosed in service or post-service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable, with the most severe hearing acuity levels being Level II in both ears.