Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening his heart disease claim and service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the heart disease claim and dismissing the appeals on hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss is not related to service, specifically noting it was more likely due to chronic ear infections rather than noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of hearing loss was denied as the earliest possible effective date is January 24, 2002.

The Board has determined that the veteran is not entitled to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and denied his claims for service connection of right and left knee disorders. The RO previously denied these claims based on lack of evidence linking current conditions to military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. However, the VA examiner provided a negative nexus opinion regarding the etiology of the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus being related to acoustic trauma in service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to clarify the veteran's service period and assess the relationship between his hearing loss, tinnitus, and military service. The case will be remanded for further review.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The issues regarding hypertension and right knee disability were also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of service connection for panic attacks and depression, as well as bilateral hearing loss, were not substantiated by the evidence. The claim for panic attacks and depression was denied because there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was also denied due to a lack of in-service disease or injury that could be linked to current disability.

The Board found no current respiratory disorder or left ear hearing loss disability and denied service connection for these conditions.

The VA denied a claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's service-connected hearing loss warrants a noncompensable rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to allow for VA examinations and further development of the evidence.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is remanded to consider a claim for increased rating for tinnitus.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss. The case must be remanded to allow for further development and consideration of the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his military service, including noise exposure during his time as a field artillery cannoneer. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's current disability is related to his exposure to acoustic trauma during service. The claim for tinnitus remains pending and will be remanded.

The veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, but the disability is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no credible evidence that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss of the left ear and residuals of a right knee injury, as well as his claim for an increased disability evaluation for hearing loss of the right ear. The decision also granted service connection for hearing loss of the right ear but assigned a noncompensable disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of relevant treatment records and for a VA audiologist examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining personnel records and scheduling a VA examination.