Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing loss is not related to his period of active service, including in-service noise exposure. The RO found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to noise exposure or any other basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to issues related to his service-connected conditions and the award of special monthly compensation. The case will be returned to the RO for further development, including readjudication and issuance of a statement of the case.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The claims are now being reviewed on their merits.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated during active service, and the Board finds that it is unrelated to his military service.

The Board has determined that the issues are more accurately characterized as stated on the cover page of this Remand. The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been remanded due to need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability and tinnitus, and there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or injury. As such, service connection for these conditions cannot be established.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of Meniere's disease has been denied. The issue of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residual imbalance status-post right ear tympanotomy with labyrinthotomy and dexamethosone perfusion, and transcanal underlay tympanoplasty remains pending as the Veteran was granted a 10% evaluation effective the day following separation from service. The claims for service connection of left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA audiology and ENT examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his alleged bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities. The issue of service connection for headaches will also be addressed in the remand portion.

The Veteran's respiratory disability to include COPD and reactive airway disease is related to service. The left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss disability of the left ear and tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during the pendency of this claim. The Veteran's fungus infection of the feet was not rated initially.

The VA determined that the Veteran's hearing loss did not occur during service and is not related to his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The VA determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service, and therefore denied his claims.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, claimed as depression; sinusitis; bladder neck contracture with median lobe hypertrophy; bilateral hearing loss; and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims were not supported by competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active duty service, nor may service connection be presumed. The Board denied the claims for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and his tinnitus is not related to service. Therefore, service connection for both conditions is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's left and right ear hearing loss did not meet the criteria for service connection as there was no evidence of aggravation during service, and the pre-existing conditions were not shown to have worsened.

The Board found no evidence of aggravation of pre-existing bilateral hearing loss during service and denied the claim for service connection. For tinnitus, there was insufficient evidence to establish its onset in service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was initially rated at noncompensable prior to April 17, 2008. The RO increased the rating to 20 percent effective April 17, 2008.