Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral hearing loss. The case is remanded for further action on the hearing loss issue.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including hypertension, bilateral eye disability, headaches, psychiatric disorder, erectile dysfunction, low back disability, knee and hip disabilities, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and hearing loss, have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are necessary for the Veteran's right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, hypertension, left knee disorder, and bilateral hearing loss claims due to incomplete or inadequate previous examinations.

The Veteran's meralgia paresthetica of the left lower extremity was rated as noncompensable from November 15, 2016. The Board found that a compensable rating is not warranted due to mild incomplete paralysis.,Two separate 10 percent ratings were granted for meralgia paresthetica of the left lower extremity anterior crural (femoral) and posterior tibial nerves from February 8, 2021.

The Board has decided that a new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as the last examination was performed over five years ago.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives and a need for further medical evaluation to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the right ear hearing loss does not meet VA compensation criteria.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss cannot be established due to lack of a current disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the Board denied a higher rating.,Service connection for TBI was denied due to lack of evidence supporting its occurrence during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the December 2015 private opinion. The case is now open for additional development, including obtaining an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and an ear disorder other than bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to her military service.,There is no evidence of arthritis or any chronic condition in service, and there is insufficient evidence to establish continuity of symptomatology post-service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to service, and the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine were denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have ankylosis of his lumbar spine, and thus cannot meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and evaluations. The additional evidence from VA will be reviewed by the AOJ.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss, higher ratings for his left knee disabilities, and entitlement to TDIU prior to August 13, 2002. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examiners and a need for new examinations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not show a relationship to service or noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities from March 4, 2022. The Veteran's cardiac disability is rated at 100% disabling during this period.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service, granted.,Service connection for a thyroid nodule is denied as the evidence does not support its onset or relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a lumbar spine disability, a skin disability, and a respiratory disability due to inadequate medical opinions and missing STRs. The VA is directed to obtain any outstanding records and provide additional medical opinions as needed.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, coronary artery disease with stable angina, and PTSD with depressed mood and sleep impairment. The appeal for an increased rating for OSA is remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The application to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is granted. The applications to reopen claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, left knee condition, right knee condition, neck condition, and right ear hearing loss are denied.