Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims to reopen for consideration of new and material evidence related to low back, bilateral knee, left ankle, bilateral hearing loss, right knee, and right ankle disorders.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a back disability, a right knee disability, and a left knee disability. The cases are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss of the left ear is rated as noncompensable due to its essentially normal acuity.,Service connection for an enlarged prostate was denied as it does not qualify as a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The claims for upper back and right shoulder disabilities are remanded due to incomplete medical records and need further examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his hearing loss.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was evaluated as Level I, which corresponds to a noncompensable disability rating. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable initial disability rating.

The Board has determined that the VA examination conducted was inadequate and remands the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a clinician regarding significant threshold shift and providing a medical opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,For the left knee, the Veteran is still seeking an increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal for hypertension was dismissed. The eye disorder claim was denied, but the heart disorder claim was granted and reopened based on new evidence. The thoracolumbar spine disability and associated neurological abnormalities were also granted and reopened. The left ear hearing loss claim was denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted, but has remanded the bilateral hearing loss claim due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is dismissed. The right ear hearing loss issue has been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as Level I (noncompensable) throughout the period on appeal, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on the audiometric test results provided.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to obtaining a March 2019 audiogram and reconsidering the Veteran's word recognition scores from that time.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date has been withdrawn.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date has been withdrawn.,New evidence has been submitted to reopen the service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea, but further review is needed before a decision can be made.,The Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension remains pending and requires additional development.,The Veteran's service connection claim for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) remains pending and requires additional development.,The Veteran's service connection claim for a neck disability remains pending and requires additional development.,The Veteran's service connection claim for traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains pending and requires additional development.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) was denied due to the lack of current diagnosis and no evidence linking his symptoms to active duty. The claim for TDIU was also denied as the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives, and another remand is required.

The Veteran's tinnitus and right ear hearing loss are granted service connection, but left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for gastritis, mental condition (presumably PTSD or similar), migraine headaches, nausea associated with gastritis, and low back disability have been dismissed. The claim for right shoulder disability based on arm limitation of motion prior to July 18, 2016, has also been dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained during his naval service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.