Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA audiology examination to determine if the veteran's hearing loss is related to military service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore denied his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a service-connected disability for any of the conditions claimed, including right ear hearing loss, left shoulder, left ankle, neck, or bilateral knee disabilities. The veteran's claims are therefore denied.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating based on the audiometric results provided.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is more likely than not due to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is reasonably shown to have had its origins during his period of active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation at the aid and attendance or housebound rate is denied as he does not meet the schedular requirements for housebound status due to his service-connected disabilities, and there is no evidence that his need for aid and attendance is solely due to a service-connected disability.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service and concluded that the current conditions are not related to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to his military service. The evidence shows he was exposed to noise during service, but there is no medical evidence linking these conditions specifically to his time in service.

The Board found that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition worsening during service. The current hearing loss is considered to be due to natural progression rather than noise exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete National Guard service records and medical records, requiring further development before a decision can be made on the claim for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss is not attributable to his period of military service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for left ear hearing loss prior to January 15, 1999, finding that his puretone thresholds did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board finds that the currently demonstrated bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to exposure to acoustic trauma during the veteran's military service, and grants service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated at a noncompensable disability rating. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the assignment of a compensable rating for his hearing loss.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, Meniere's disease, and tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for hypertension (reopening of a previously denied claim), right thumb scars, and residuals of inguinal herniorrhaphy. The decision on the issue of service connection for bilateral knee disability was not provided.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their onset during active military duty.,The veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and chronic headaches were also not shown to have had their onset during active military duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear and left ear hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the right ear claim and that there was no evidence linking current hearing loss to service or a service-connected disability.