Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to noise exposure during his military service, warranting a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and degenerative arthritis of multiple joints, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability or any link to service.

The Board has vacated its March 24, 2009 decision due to the submission of new evidence that was not considered in the original decision. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and right knee disability were denied as service connection is not warranted based on the lack of evidence showing an increase in severity during service or aggravation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to their severity and nature.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further consideration of his claims for service connection for chronic hearing loss disability and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for coronary artery disease.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. As such, both claims remain denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss and finds that new evidence received since the October 1994 denial relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The Board also finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability of left ear hearing loss, as his hearing is within normal limits according to VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not related to his service, and thus denied these claims. The headaches were found to be incurred in service.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, bipolar disorder, and hypertension. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case to accommodate the Veteran's request for a video-conference hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not at a level of severity to warrant a compensable schedular evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not present during service, was not manifest within a year after separation from service, and the current bilateral hearing loss did not develop as a result of any incident during service. The Board concludes that bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was granted, with the effective date being January 25, 2007. He is now assigned a 20 percent rating.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development to ensure compliance with Hupp v. Nicholson, including providing proper VCAA notice.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is denied. However, the Veteran was granted service connection for outpatient treatment of his lost teeth due to trauma in service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of right ankle contusion, bilateral lower extremity numbness (including bilateral peripheral neuropathy), chronic vision disorder, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus effective June 2, 2004 on the basis of new evidence. The Veteran's original claim was denied in October 1970 and July 1972 due to lack of new factual basis. He submitted a statement seeking earlier effective date on June 2, 2004.