Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability rating for right ear hearing loss and service connection for hypertension due to insufficient discussion of functional effects and lack of adequate evidence regarding exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran will need a VA examination to clarify his symptoms, and an opinion from Dr. T. on the nature and likely cause of his hypertension.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is at least a reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran due to evidence showing noise exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, specifically inadequate medical opinions regarding the onset of these conditions.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is granted service connection on a presumptive basis. The bilateral feet and nose disabilities are remanded for further examination, and the hearing loss of the right ear has been granted an initial compensable rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient analysis of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and its relation to in-service noise exposure. The claim will be reviewed again with additional evidence considered.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic left foot disability, chronic right foot disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including schizoaffective disorder), chronic lumbar spine disorder, chronic cervical spine disorder, chronic left shoulder disorder, chronic left knee disorder, chronic right knee disorder, chronic left ankle disorder, and chronic right ankle disorder. The claims are being remanded for further review.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were not rated higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not compensable, as the average pure tone threshold does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's gynecomastia mastectomy scar is not compensable under DC 7802 due to its small size and lack of instability or pain.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis and positive nexus opinion from a VA examination during the appeal period are sufficient to establish service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, leaving no issues for the Board to consider.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The heart condition issue has been remanded for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hemorrhoid condition for VA purposes and therefore denied his claim. The claims for allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his military service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that it is causally related to his noise exposure during military service.

The Veteran's TDIU, initial evaluations for peripheral neuropathy in the right and left lower extremities, diabetes, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss are granted. The effective dates for these determinations are September 25, 2018.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to missing VA treatment records and a need for an examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete medical records and insufficient VA examination opinions. The Veteran's exposure to hazardous noise in service is established, but additional development is needed to determine if his current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. A new VA examination is needed to provide a more informed opinion on whether his hearing loss is related to service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of these conditions.,Service connection for anxiety disorder has been granted, with the Board finding that the Veteran had chronic anxiety starting during service.