Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to determine if his hearing loss is related to military noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, posttraumatic stress disorder, and sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his exposure to loud noise during active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, but the issue of service connection for a right ear disability separate from hearing loss (to include a tumor of the right ear) is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of March 23, 2023. The Board granted TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, right long finger impairment, and hearing loss have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show his hearing acuity to be higher than Level V in either ear.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) was also denied because the evidence did not meet the criteria for such a rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be reconsidered with a new examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of a VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his cause of death, specifically related to herbicide exposure. The claim will be reconsidered with this information.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of thoracic spine degenerative joint disease, bilateral hearing loss disability, and headaches due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable (0 percent) disabling, and the Board denied a higher rating based on the current level of disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, but a separate 30 percent rating for his vertigo symptoms has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for residuals of prostate cancer was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal. The Board also remanded cases involving service connection for right and left knee disorders, as well as bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was dismissed because no substantive appeal was filed in response to the October 2019 Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss should be remanded to allow for proper procedural steps.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding treatment records and a VA medical opinion regarding his need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are currently rated at the maximum allowed under VA regulations, with no further schedular increases possible.,Hypertension is also currently rated at the maximum allowed under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including obtaining a basic eligibility determination from the Veterans Health Administration regarding the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a dental disability for treatment purposes. The issues of right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are also being remanded due to their potential impact on the dental disability claim.