Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasoning in a previous VA opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss. The case will be returned for further development and an addendum opinion from a different examiner.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertensive vascular disease, left ear hearing loss, and infection of the skin due to additional VA treatment records generated after the most recent SSOC. Further development is needed as these disabilities may be related to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral foot disorder, and vascular disorder due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's left and right foot disabilities have been granted service connection with effective dates of June 27, 2013. Effective date for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has not been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The RO is instructed to obtain an adequate VA examination that addresses the Veteran's lay statements, considers shifts in acuity thresholds found in service records, and addresses in-service, post-service, occupational, and recreational hazardous noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his puretone thresholds and speech recognition scores did not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and erectile dysfunction are granted service connection. The low back strain with degenerative joint disease and lumbar disc extrusion at L4-5, neuropathy, and PTSD with major depressive disorder are remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, but the other issues related to hearing loss, wrist disorder, foot disorder, asthma, and COPD are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for a retrospective VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss prior to November 8, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms have been continuous since his separation from service.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the need based on his service-connected disabilities. Further medical opinion is required, including from a private rehabilitation facility records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as there is no current disability of a hearing loss disability for VA purposes. The issues of entitlement to service connection for migraine headaches, lumbosacral and thoracic strain, patellofemoral pain syndrome (right knee), patellofemoral pain syndrome (left knee), and TDIU are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability, and the Veteran's claimed noise exposure in service did not result in permanent auditory damage.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to service. The VA will need to provide a new opinion on this issue.

The Board has granted a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis prior to February 11, 2022, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of clarification on whether his hearing loss is conductive, sensorineural, or mixed. The VA examiner will be asked to provide an opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's hearing loss and submarine duty.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and hammertoes. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus was denied in a November 2004 rating decision. The effective date of the grants of service connection is set at December 11, 2015.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is denied as his audiometric test results have consistently shown Level I hearing acuity in the left ear, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.