Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as they did not manifest in or shortly after service, did not involve continuity of symptomatology from service to diagnosis, and are otherwise unrelated to service.,The Veteran's current tinnitus was also denied as it did not involve continuity of symptomatology from service to diagnosis.

The Veteran's hearing loss is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for abnormal menstrual cycle, hearing loss, right leg disorder, left leg disorder, lumbar muscle strain and degenerative arthritis (also known as osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease), and pelvic muscle spasms due to mild diastasis of the pubic symphysis have been dismissed. The Veteran's claims for service connection for these conditions are all granted.,The Veteran's hearing loss, right leg disorder, and left leg disorder were previously denied but new evidence has now reopened these claims.

The Veteran's claim for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease secondary to service-connected bilateral foot disabilities has been granted. The claims for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss, have been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted total disability ratings based on individual unemployability due to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied. The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar back strain, right ankle residual status-post fracture, PTSD, complex cyst right kidney, and left ear hearing loss.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 10 percent for a scar of the right knee, denied service connection for hearing loss, and granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is not an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence to establish a nexus between his current hearing loss and military service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back disability (claimed as back pain), left hip disability (claimed as left hip pain), right hip disability (claimed as right hip pain), left foot disability (claimed as left foot cramps), and right foot disability (claimed as right foot cramps) due to lack of evidence of a current disability in service or related to military service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in its decision regarding the adequacy of a VA medical examination and the Veteran's argument about an Institute of Medicine study.

The Board denied service connection for a left arm disability and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of sufficient evidence regarding long-term noise-induced hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for right ear hearing loss was reopened and granted service connection.,The Veteran's claim for left ear hearing loss was not reopened.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including ischemic heart disease, lumbosacral strain, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of continuity of symptoms since discharge from service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claim is granted as there is at least equipoise in the evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as service-connected. The right and left hip disabilities, as well as the left ankle disability, are denied secondary to other service-connected conditions or due to obesity. Service connection for a heart disability is granted based on herbicide exposure. A TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD disability, standing alone, prevents him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation as of October 11, 2017.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of service connection for major depressive disorder was granted, and he is now entitled to a disability rating. The effective date for this grant is not specified.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss as there is no current disability meeting VA compensation criteria.