Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral total knee replacements and PTSD, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU have been met.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is found to be related to her active duty service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The issues of service connection for residuals of a broken right middle finger, residuals of a broken right leg, and right ear hearing loss are remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing and restored his disability ratings for left knee instability and right knee instability. The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities that preclude locomotion due to multiple orthopedic and neurological conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied as there was no diagnosis of the condition.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to non-diagnosed symptoms and lack of evidence supporting a higher disability level.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30% rating for GERD with nutcracker esophagus is dismissed as moot, but the issue of service connection for erectile dysfunction and lumbar spine disability remains remanded.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction (secondary to his service-connected conditions) and lumbar spine disability remain pending and are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating and an earlier effective date for his bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these claims as they are now pending with the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no legally recognized disability within the meaning of VA compensation purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, but dismissed the appeals regarding fatigue and bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.,A rating of 10 percent, and no higher, has been granted for degenerative arthritis of the right fifth finger.,Service connection for hypertension has been established.,Service connection for residuals of status post bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome release has been established.,Service connection for migraine headaches has been established.,Service connection for a disability of the ear manifested by dizziness (including vertigo and peripheral vestibular disorder (PVD)) as secondary to service-connected rhinitis has been established.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, has not been established.

The Board has restored the 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss, effective July 1, 2015. The claimant's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was previously reduced to zero percent in April 2015 and then increased back to 20 percent in August 2022.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking the condition to active service. The hearing loss claim is remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding its relation to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hepatitis C have been denied.,The Veteran's knee conditions (left and right) and associated scars are being remanded for additional examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for bilateral hearing loss because no new and material evidence was received, and the existing evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The Board finds that service connection for low back disability, left shoulder arthritis, and right shoulder arthritis has not been met due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

For the period from January 28, 2017 to October 23, 2018, the Veteran's hearing loss disability was rated at 10 percent.,For the period beginning October 24, 2018, the Veteran's hearing loss disability was rated at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran contends that his current hearing loss disability stems from in-service noise exposure, but the VA examiner concluded it is less likely than not incurred in or caused by service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a skin condition including skin cancer, and a right knee disability. The Veteran's claim of service connection for benign neoplasms of the gynecological system or breast (claimed as lipomas over body) is also remanded.,Service connection was not granted for heart disease due to an insufficient medical opinion addressing the Veteran's Reserve periods.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and private treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability as defined by VA standards, and thus service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to deficiencies in the VA examination, specifically regarding the Veteran's hearing loss during service and the adequacy of whisper tests used.