Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including hepatitis C and tonsil cancer. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability due to conflicting evidence and lack of an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or permanently housebound, thus SMC based on aid and attendance is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision found that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred during his active service, while the evidence does not support a finding that his current bilateral hearing loss was caused by in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to bilateral hearing loss, respiratory conditions (including sleep apnea), right ankle condition, left hand condition, and right hand condition require further development due to inadequate or incomplete examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since February 13, 2018. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not found to be related to service, and the Board denied entitlement to service connection for accrued benefits.

The Veteran's appeal regarding his bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss or a higher than 50 percent rating for OSA.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the issues of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions regarding in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure caused his current sensorineural hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss but has remanded the issue of service connection for a respiratory disorder due to in-service exposure to toxins, fumes, and other environmental agents.

The Board dismissed the issue of service connection for kidney stones. Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the disabilities and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions regarding his hearing loss disability of the right ear and disabilities of both shoulders. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant records, including personnel and service treatment records, and arrange for new medical opinions on the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss prior to May 3, 2021 and denied service connection for sleep disturbances. The most probative evidence of record did not support the presence of separate disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder disability and denied service connection for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus caused permanent nerve damage to the inner ear, leading to current bilateral hearing loss. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service acoustic trauma, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.