Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board finds that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss is causally related to his in-service noise exposure, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability during the presumptive period. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were more likely due to occupational noise exposure and presbycusis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus but assigned a 10 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as his condition is found to be directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as moot due to the assignment of a 100% disability rating for bilateral hearing loss effective April 3, 2008.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a tumor of the left parotid gland and bilateral hearing loss. The decision found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for bilateral hearing loss, as it was not shown that the condition is related to service or herbicide exposure. Service connection for the tumor of the left parotid gland was also denied due to lack of evidence showing a link between the condition and service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is proximately due to his service-connected otitis media, and granted his claim. However, there was insufficient evidence to support a finding of right ear hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bronchial asthma and bilateral hearing loss were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, concluding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent since February 10, 2009. Prior to that date, the condition did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no medical nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not occur during service or are otherwise related to his military service. As a result, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including an addendum opinion and/or examination regarding the impact of her low back and bilateral knee disabilities on her employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for service connection purposes related to right ear hearing loss. The initial ratings assigned for retained shrapnel, right thigh; Achilles tendonitis, right ankle; retropatellar pain syndrome, left knee; and residuals of choroidal rupture, left eye were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, a herniated disc, and neuropathy. The decision found that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease resulting in current disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, effective August 9, 2005. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to service or an incident of service origin, including in-service noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, in combination, preclude him from obtaining and maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background. The Board finds that the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities are met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or related to service. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions are not linked to his military service.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability, with a focus on his left ear, was not incurred or aggravated during active service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.