Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss are granted. The decision is based on the PACT Act presumption of exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. Service connection is also remanded for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and some other conditions due to lack of evidence linking these disabilities to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal for these issues prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea have been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of current disabilities, and the medical records did not support a secondary service connection claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is related to noise exposure during his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected alcohol/multisubstance abuse is granted as secondary to his PTSD. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied, while the Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a 50% rating.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to April 3, 2020 was denied. From April 3, 2020, the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ear hearing loss due to a lack of adequate medical opinions, missing audiogram records, and outstanding VA medical records. The Veteran is also requested to provide Social Security Administration disability records.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The issues of rating in excess of 30 percent for unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease with atrial fibrillation is rated at 60 percent, effective February 11, 2023. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding service connection and exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's hearing loss is not compensably rated, and his neurological disorders are being reviewed for possible service connection.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service and remands for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed because he opted into the modernized appeals process under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA).

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD; sleep disorder; lumbar spine disability; right lower extremity disability; left lower extremity disability; skin disability; right shoulder disability; left shoulder disability; bilateral hearing loss; tinnitus; headaches; and dizziness. The Veteran's period of active service is not established as honorable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and reopening of previously denied claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying in-service stressors.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a missed VA examination for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran needs to be rescheduled for an examination and any recent medical records should also be added to his file.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating has been assigned. The claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted, but the claim for service connection for MDD is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for restless leg syndrome is denied as there is no evidence of the condition during or recent to his claim period.