Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned an initial 50 percent rating, which is higher than the originally assigned 30 percent. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not found to be incurred in or aggravated by service, and tinnitus was not found to have been incurred in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, as well as a higher rating for his bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis. The Veteran was not granted any of these benefits.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for hearing loss or a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of current disabilities meeting the criteria for a disability, nor any competent medical opinion linking these conditions to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service and grants this claim. The appeal for tinnitus was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to a decision being made.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, including exposure to noise. The Board found no evidence of in-service acoustic trauma or a continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the merits of the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of in-service onset or association with active duty. The claim for Rocky Mountain spotted fever was not addressed due to the nature of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for a back disorder and found that new and material evidence has been received. The Board also determined that there is no link between the Veteran's current back, cervical spine, or bilateral hearing loss conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, and his end-stage otitis media warrants a non-compensable rating. Both conditions are determined to be service-connected on the merits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral knee disability were denied. The RO granted service connection for chronic cervical strain, gastrointestinal disability, and pulmonary hypertension and mitral valve regurgitation but assigned noncompensable ratings.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, but his tinnitus and PTSD claims are denied. The initial rating for PTSD remains at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated. The Veteran does not have a diagnosed tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and found that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for left exotropia, non-comitant, paresis of internal and rectus muscle. The Veteran's eye disorder is considered a constitutional or developmental abnormality.

The Board has determined that the September 2002 rating decision denying service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is final. No new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen this claim.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at 30 percent from July 31, 2008. The claim for a higher initial rating prior to that date has been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and have denied all of his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). The dates are necessary to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss and neck condition were incurred in service.