Hearing loss Board decisions

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outpatient treatment records and a VA audiology examination. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen his claim of service connection for tinnitus will also be addressed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was not present during service and is not shown to be etiologically related to active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is denied.

The Board denied a higher initial rating for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no competent evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service. The VA examiner opined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are more than not unrelated to military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his period of active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they are related to his exposure to acoustic trauma during active duty.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development due to a previous Court decision.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is no more than noncompensably disabling since February 1, 2003.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his previously conceded acoustic trauma in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining the veteran's service and reserve personnel records as well as medical records. The VA audiologist will provide an opinion on whether the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating or establish service connection.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is necessary to address the current severity of the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as his representative indicated that the condition had worsened since the September 2002 VA examination. The case is REMANDED for additional development including VCAA notice and obtaining medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a bilateral knee disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA audiological examination to determine if any current hearing impairment of the left ear originated during service or is otherwise related to service. The issues of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss of the left ear and entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for service-connected hearing loss of the right ear will be considered following this development.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the claimed right inguinal hernia, left ear hearing loss, or right ankle condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected and granted a grant of service connection. The veteran's tinnitus, currently rated at 10 percent, remains unchanged.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his fused distal interphalangeal joint, third finger, left hand; scars, second and fourth fingers, left hand; and bilateral hearing loss have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher evaluation under applicable rating criteria.