Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and found that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability originated during his military service. The claim of reopening for Meniere's disease due to mustard gas exposure was not addressed, as it is a separate issue.

The Board found no evidence of current hearing loss or tinnitus in the right ear for VA purposes, and thus denied service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus were not linked to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains whether he should receive an initial compensable disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are service-connected, with the latter condition not being linked to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than June 30, 2004 for a 70 percent rating for PTSD and a TDIU based on service-connected PTSD are denied as there was no pending claim prior to that date.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition. The hearing loss claim will be remanded as it requires additional development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were denied as there is no legal basis to assign higher schedular ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA audiology examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently have a 'hearing loss disability' as defined by VA regulation, and therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions and issues, including lower back disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease, heart condition, hypertension, closed head injury residuals, hepatitis, syncope (fainting), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disability. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Veteran died of malignant melanoma, a condition not service-connected. His death is not considered to be due to any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues regarding the July 2006 VA audiological examination and the August 2006 ear disease VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.,There is no evidence of a relationship between the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and initial compensable evaluations for fracture residuals of the right foot, fifth metatarsal, and pes planus were denied. The Board found that there was no current disability for hearing loss and insufficient evidence to support a compensable rating for either the right foot or pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss has been dismissed due to his death while the appeal was pending.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his audiometric test results do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore, service connection for hearing loss is denied.