Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise in showing that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss began during service or as a result of prolonged excessive noise exposure while on active duty. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The case is being remanded due to the inability to obtain a recording of the veteran's July 2005 video-conference hearing. The veteran has been requested to attend an additional hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the Waco RO.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to address the etiology of the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which may be related to service or post-service noise exposure. The RO will also attempt to obtain relevant medical records from various providers.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating, and thus denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, residuals of flash burns to the eyes, and a respiratory disorder due to asbestos exposure. The evidence did not support these claims as there was no current disability or link between the conditions and service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied a compensable evaluation for hearing loss of the left ear. The claim for service connection for hearing loss of the right ear is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its cause.

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

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred.

The veteran's claim for reducing the rating of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss from 30% to 20% is being remanded due to inconsistencies in the audiometric test results. The case will be returned to the Board after further examination and evaluation.

The Board has granted a rating of 10 percent for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, effective January 13, 2005. The effective date was determined to be the earliest possible date based on the evidence provided.

The Board found no evidence of current hearing loss disability per VA standards and denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability warrants a 40 percent evaluation, effective from December 2002. The evidence does not support an increase in rating beyond this level.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not establish a current disability or link to service.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically bilateral hearing loss and visual loss. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss attributable to his period of military service.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service, and was not aggravated by service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date were denied. The Board found no evidence of any service connection or increase in disability related to the claimed conditions.