Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that remand is necessary to obtain private audiometric records and additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea. The hearing loss claim remains on appeal, while the service connection for sleep apnea will be addressed again.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied in a March 2010 rating decision. The claim for an acquired mental health disorder was reopened due to new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The Board finds that a more thorough examination is required to determine if there is a link between current hearing loss or tinnitus and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to September 23, 2013 is denied as the evidence does not show that his service-connected disabilities alone precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA's criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to noise exposure during his active military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, MDD, PTSD, GERD, migraine headaches, sarcoidosis, and skin lesions/lesions on back are remanded.,An effective date prior to March 10, 2016 for the grants of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for headaches, a right ankle condition, vertigo (claimed as dizziness), a right hip condition, and right ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA treatment records from July 2019 to the present. The Veteran is free to file a separate claim for tinnitus if he wishes.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected. The remaining issues of service connection for back, left shoulder, right ankle, and left foot/toe disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened and granted as it is at least as likely as not related to service-connected depressive disorder.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of current disability, with no evidence showing a compensable degree of hearing loss within one year after discharge from service.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's stomach condition is remanded to obtain an opinion regarding direct service connection and secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability due to unclear reasoning in the previous VA examination.

The Board has found that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss, as there are questions regarding whether he currently has a hearing disability in his right ear and if it is related to service. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection claims and increased evaluation requests for various disabilities. The Veteran's appeal remains pending.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss case is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has found that the AOJ did not substantially comply with prior remand directives and requires addendum opinions regarding whether the Veteran's substance abuse disorder is at least as likely as not aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the issue of service connection for a right foot disability, to include as secondary to service-connected back or left knee disabilities.

The Board has decided that the claim of entitlement to service connection for headaches, secondary to service-connected disabilities, needs further development due to insufficient medical opinions addressing causation and aggravation.