Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a respiratory disorder (COPD) and gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,Service connection is sought for a respiratory disorder, including as due to herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran's service records show he had upper respiratory infections in 1970 and 1972, which may be related to his current COPD diagnosis.,The Veteran seeks service connection for GERD, claiming it developed from his service-connected disabilities or due to herbicide agent exposure. A VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of his gastrointestinal disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and service, as well as its relation to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for high frequency sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus due to additional relevant VA treatment records being associated with the file after the issuance of the September 2022 supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to April 13, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for a compensable rating for left inguinal hernia and service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to additional relevant VA treatment records being associated with the file after the issuance of the September 2020 statement of the case. The AOJ is required to issue an SSOC considering this new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional records. The Veteran's hearing loss is conceded, but there is no direct evidence linking it to service exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, rhinitis, eye disorder, bilateral hearing loss, bladder disorder, right hip disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, and skin rash disorder have all been denied. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with the VA finding that his impairment does not warrant a higher rating based on current clinical findings and audiometric testing.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for left ear hearing loss and left shoulder degenerative arthritis with scar are denied. The case is remanded due to the need for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for a back disability and left ear hearing loss need further development due to incomplete verification of the Appellant's periods of active duty, training, or inactive duty. The VA examinations performed were inadequate as they did not consider the Veteran's lay assertions regarding symptom onset and continuity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss was reopened and granted. The Board also found that the Veteran had continuous symptoms of right ear hearing loss since his separation from service, allowing for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b). However, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. Bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the cases due to an inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are not related to service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma with COPD and emphysema, peptic ulcer, and bilateral hearing loss do not render him unemployable due to his disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss manifested within one year of discharge, and his tinnitus is secondary to his hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities made him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 25, 2017. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's hearing loss is not rated higher than noncompensable, as the VA examination did not show a more severe disability.,Service connection for HTN was granted based on the PACT Act, which presumes HTN to be related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has ordered the Regional Office to obtain private treatment records from Dr. M-M for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, RLE radiculopathy, and LLE radiculopathy claims. The appeals are remanded due to incomplete evidence.