Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss from April 14, 2008. The veteran's initial claim of service connection for hypertension was denied in July 2003 and is not before the Board.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, as his hearing acuity did not reach levels warranting such a rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to conflicting evidence regarding whether the veteran's hearing loss is related to military service, specifically annual active duty for training or one weekend a month of inactive duty training from 1976 to 1991.

The veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which the VA examiner found less likely related to in-service noise exposure. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional consideration of his claims, including a VA examination and medical opinion regarding his hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be returned to the Board after further review.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for low back strain with degenerative arthritis. The evidence did not support a finding that the veteran's current conditions were caused or aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus of the right ear, arthritis secondary to diabetes mellitus, and hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus. The veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his low back disability and bilateral hearing loss, as well as service connection for sleep apnea and GERD. The veteran was not granted any new evaluations or connections.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest within one year of separation from service, and there is no evidence of a nexus between current symptoms and active duty. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current tinnitus is related to his in-service acoustic trauma exposure. The decision on bilateral hearing loss and headaches remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and an increased rating for his right middle finger disability. The veteran's left ear hearing loss was not shown to have been aggravated by service, while his tinnitus and right middle finger disability were not found to be related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and evaluation of the veteran's claims, including his right little finger injury, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and left ear mastoiditis with otitis media, finding that there was no evidence of impairment warranting a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not related to his military service. As a result, the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's gynecological disabilities, including dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, menometrorrhagia and urinary stress incontinence, were not incurred or aggravated by active military service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is referred to the RO for further action.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for COPD as a result of asbestos exposure, hearing loss of the left ear, and residuals of nose, right eye, right jaw, and right teeth injuries. The claims are based on direct service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased initial disability rating for service-connected residuals of prostate cancer was granted, and his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to service, and thus granted service connection for this condition.