Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete examination and missing medical records. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA disability benefits records, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary hearing evaluation records, and a VA otolaryngology examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and noting that the veteran did not have hearing loss during service or within one year after discharge. The Board also found that the veteran had not provided sufficient evidence to establish continuity of symptomatology.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the submission of additional medical evidence that has not been considered yet.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including VA examinations to obtain etiology opinions regarding the veteran's claimed back, hip and hearing loss disabilities. The veteran was not provided with proper VCAA notice.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. Service connection was also granted for diabetes mellitus Type 2 as secondary to exposure to Agent Orange. The veteran's hypertension is not service connected.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The claims for back and neck disorders remain pending.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a back disability. The claim to reopen for a psychiatric disorder is granted, but further development is needed as the evidence does not indicate that his current psychiatric condition is related to service.

The veteran's cervical spine and knee disabilities are granted with a 10% rating, while his left shoulder disability is service-connected. Right ear hearing loss is also found to be service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically noise exposure during his time as a small arms technician in the Marine Corps. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no legal basis to award the requested ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the claimant. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claims for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss disability were decided, but the appeal regarding initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and cranial nerve III palsy with facial numbness and ptosis and diplopia of the right eye was dismissed due to a lack of timely filing.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional VCAA notice.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran is not entitled to an initial compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss and a compensable evaluation for his paralysis of the left pupil.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his active military service, including from in-service noise exposure.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current hearing loss, tinnitus, colon disability (gastrointestinal reflux disease), and back disability and his military service. The preponderance of the evidence is against all claims for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied as there is no current evidence of the claimed disabilities.

The Board finds that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service and grants the claim for service connection.