Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition had its onset in service and is related to noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is reopened, but the case is remanded to obtain an addendum VA opinion regarding his in-service audiological examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU for the appeal period prior to April 1, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not caused by his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and left ankle disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and neurological disorder (Sydenham's chorea) due to potential issues with current diagnoses or functional impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, including from January 27, 2022. The Board granted a TDIU based on the combined schedular rating of 80% for his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as secondary to his service-connected hypertension. The appeal is being returned to the VA Regional Office for further development.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to PTSD, spinal disabilities, hearing loss, fibromyalgia, and other conditions. The Veteran's VA treatment records need to be updated, and she needs to undergo additional examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, right knee disorder, and respiratory disorder have been granted. The decision also remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder, respiratory disorder, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military noise exposure. The claims were previously denied due to a lack of evidence showing a permanent shift in hearing thresholds during service.

The Board has found that the duty to assist prior to the appealed rating decision necessitates remand due to a pre-decisional failure of the duty to assist. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee condition, and left knee condition are all remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cause of death and entitlement to DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining an adequate medical opinion prior to the August 2019 rating decision on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted. The claim for recurrent foot disability to include bilateral pes planus and bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and coronary artery disease associated with herbicide exposure due to incomplete records. The effective dates for service connection are not granted as there is no evidence of a claim prior to March 4, 2014.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds there were pre-decisional duty to assist errors. Therefore, a remand is required for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran requires regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, leading to a grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeal for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to April 19, 2022, for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's appeal for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent since April 19, 2022, for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including verification of his service stationing at Camp Le and additional medical records to determine the presence or absence of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.