Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, leading to a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's hyperlipidemia is not a disability for VA purposes.,There is no evidence of a right kidney disability, to include cystic kidney disease, incurred in service.,There is no evidence of a gall bladder disability, to include cholecystectomy residuals, incurred in service.,There is no evidence of a colon disability, to include colon polyps, incurred in service.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and bilateral hearing loss are not shown to be due to service or any service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for hyperlipidemia, right kidney disability, gall bladder disability, colon disability, and bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss prior to August 30, 2021.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination and need for additional VA clinical records. The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure during combat.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder degenerative joint disease and service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to issues with previous examinations and lack of consideration of lay reports regarding delayed onset hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder is granted with an effective date of April 24, 1982. Service connection for perforated ear drums (claimed as tympanic membrane injury with bilateral hearing loss) is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in its previous decisions and the need for further development of evidence, including obtaining VA treatment records and an audiologist's opinion on the Veteran's hearing loss from April 2011 to December 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 and lumbar spine disorder, but has remanded the claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and cervical spine disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for COPD, MAC, psoriasis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to outstanding private treatment records and inadequate VA medical opinions. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in service is presumed.

The Board has remanded several issues, including an increased rating for right ear hearing loss, a determination of TDIU, service connection for PTSD, and the effective date for service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran is required to provide information about his employment status and undergo a VA audiological evaluation.

Service connection for a skin rash was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Bilateral hearing loss prior to August 2, 2016, was granted a 10 percent rating and not increased further.,Bilateral hearing loss from August 2, 2016, was granted a 30 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear and left ear hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure. The appeals are not related to service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to uncertainty regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and its relation to service. A new VA examination is needed to clarify these issues.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to July 23, 2021 is remanded due to incomplete records and employment information.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for sciatica of the bilateral lower extremities and GERD. The issues of initial increased ratings for sciatica of the bilateral lower extremities and a TDIU are being remanded.,The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is pending, with a need to obtain personnel records and determine active duty periods.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating for bilateral knee disorders, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's application to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for hypertension is granted, and he is now entitled to this benefit under the PACT Act.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss as secondary to TBI is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's current hearing loss in the right ear is proximately due to his service-connected TBI.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent from June 8, 2012 to August 23, 2019. The Board has granted a TDIU effective March 29, 2019.,From March 29, 2019 to August 23, 2019, the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded to obtain an assessment of the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability prior to March 18, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, as his unemployment is attributed to non-service connected conditions.