Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for gout due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The remaining issues of service connection for chronic gastrointestinal disability, erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded for further development.

The Board dismissed the appeal of your claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss because you requested to withdraw it.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, and requests an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee condition, right leg condition, and various radiculopathy conditions due to a failure of the duty to assist in providing adequate VA examinations.,The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no objective medical evidence demonstrating hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as non-compensable throughout the appeal period.,The Board is remanding the issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to April 2, 2020 due to conflicting information regarding employment status.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. Service connections for bilateral hearing loss disability, LUE peripheral neuropathy, RUE peripheral neuropathy, LLE peripheral neuropathy, and RLE peripheral neuropathy are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss prior to December 6, 2016 was rated at noncompensable (0%) due to mild hearing impairment in both ears.,Since December 6, 2016, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10% (noncompensable) due to moderate hearing impairment in both ears. The rating is maintained as there is no evidence of exceptional or unusual disability that would warrant an extraschedular evaluation.,The Veteran was not found unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of service-connected disabilities prior to January 19, 2022.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination, including service connection claims for various conditions. The Veteran's claim for refractive error is denied as it is a congenital disorder not subject to service connection. Service connection for tuberculosis exposure is also denied due to lack of current disability. Other claims are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss in the left ear is not service-connected, and remands the case for further development to obtain relevant medical records. The right ear hearing loss claim is also remanded due to its interdependence with the left ear hearing loss claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to noise exposure during his active duty service and resultant acoustic trauma. The Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of adequate VA and private treatment records. The RO is instructed to obtain these records on remand.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is denied as the current 10 percent evaluation is the maximum available.,Service connection for high cholesterol is denied because it does not meet VA compensation criteria.,A TDIU award is granted based on service-connected disabilities preventing substantial gainful employment.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for schizophrenia remains remanded due to potential aggravation of pre-existing conditions.,Claims for higher ratings for right rotator cuff tendonitis, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral knee osteoarthritis are also remanded.,Claims for higher ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonitis, and metatarsalgia remain remanded.,Claims for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), allergic rhinitis, internal hemorrhoids, right colon adenoma, umbilical hernia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and insomnia are all remanded.,The Veteran's claim to reopen a previously denied service connection for a right colon adenoma is also remanded.,Service connection claims for an umbilical hernia secondary to the right colon adenoma and diabetes mellitus remain remanded.,Claims for service connection for heart disability, including hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and insomnia are all remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a current disability, in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury, and a nexus between his claimed conditions and his service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the timeliness of the NOD to an August 2011 rating decision and service connection for a spinal tumor. The Board dismissed these claims as withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for a TDIU prior to July 2, 2017. The Board dismissed the issue as it was explicitly and unambiguously made by the Veteran.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hearing loss and lumbosacral strain, as well as his service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and headaches, require additional evidence due to the passage of time since their last examinations. The Veteran is also required to have a thorough search conducted for all Air National Guard service treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for onychomycosis is granted, and his initial compensable rating claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss and a left ankle disorder due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran contends that his hearing loss is related to noise exposure during service, while his ankle disorder is linked to parachute jumps he performed in service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds another remand necessary to address his claim for an increased rating.,Service connection for COPD is denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or herbicide agent exposure.

The Board denied service connection for deformed finger joints with pain, left knee condition, right knee condition, and bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.,There was no in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The medical opinions provided did not establish a link between the current disabilities and service.