Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies in the August 2017 VA examination and opinion, requiring an additional VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss as it did not find a causal relationship to service and the condition was not shown to have manifested within one year of separation from active duty.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including bilateral foot, wrist, ankle, knee, groin injury with residual erectile dysfunction, TBI with headaches, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and bilateral hearing loss disability, have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Major Depressive Disorder and bilateral hearing loss disability, have precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since March 1, 2013. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss and left foot disability, finding no current disability meets VA criteria. The Court remanded due to inadequate examination.,The Board also found that a new adequate VA examination is needed for residuals of calcaneus stress fracture, left foot.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from June 5, 2019 to July 14, 2020. His bilateral hearing loss remains at an 80 percent rating prior to this date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded his service connection claim for diabetes mellitus, type II. The appeal is currently pending due to a need for further verification of herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus due to outstanding records and need for updated examinations.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and acne (with scarring) based on clear and unmistakable error in previous rating decisions.

The Veteran's appeals for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were dismissed due to her death.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the appropriate ratings for his service-connected conditions and to address the issues on appeal.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for right ear hearing loss requires further development and is therefore remanded.

The Veteran's claim to service connection for a back condition was reopened and granted.,Service connection is now established for lumbar spine disorder and cervical spine disorder.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current disabilities are not related to active duty service. The evidence did not support a nexus between the Veteran's current conditions and his military noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Board has ordered additional VA examination to assess the severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of adequate opinion regarding aggravation of right ear hearing loss by service-connected peripheral vestibular disorder, chronic otitis externa, and tinnitus. The Veteran's representative argues for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable (0%) throughout the appeal period, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient examination reports addressing qualifying aspects of a 2006 IOM report and the Veteran's statements regarding noise exposure. The right knee disability claims are also being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss that meets VA criteria.,The Veteran's claim for vision impairment is denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for allergic rhinitis is denied as the maximum schedular rating has been assigned.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for sinusitis is denied as there were no incapacitating episodes or non-incapacitating episodes within the past year.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the right hip disability, left hip disability, and bilateral hearing loss.