Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and left ear hearing loss due to a lack of evidence regarding their onset in service, as well as potential secondary or aggravation relationships with her service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the November 2021 rating decision is insufficient and remanded for further action, including obtaining VA treatment records from Altoona and providing a new medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided that the appellant's service is not classified as qualifying for VA benefits, and thus denied both pension and disability compensation claims. The decision is remanded to obtain missing National Guard and Army Reserve records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied in March 2005 due to a failure to meet the criteria of impaired hearing at separation. The Board found that there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in this decision, as the evidence showed current disability, in-service noise exposure, and a positive medical nexus opinion.

The Board found that the reduction in disability rating for bilateral hearing loss from 50% to 40% was proper, as there was actual improvement demonstrated by a contemporaneous VA examination. The reduction of the lumbar spine disability rating from 40% to 20% was not proper due to lack of evidence showing sustained material improvement under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are etiologically related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are etiologically related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are etiologically related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ear hearing loss, finding that it is related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has found that a remand is needed to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) are granted as service connected.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The decision on the tinnitus claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss from July 8, 2020 to May 30, 2022, and a rating in excess of 20 percent from May 31, 2022 was denied as the evidence did not show his disability warranted these ratings.

The Board has denied service connection for basal cell carcinoma and remanded the claims for hearing loss and sinusitis/rhinitis due to lack of evidence showing a current disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss, PTSD, headache disorder, left ankle and knee disorders, and shoulder disorders. The decision also remanded several other issues.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to a disease or injury during active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to be related to service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or immediately after service. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was also not shown to be related to service.,The Veteran has a current diagnosis of tinnitus but the Board finds that his tinnitus did not have its onset in service and is not etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has granted service connection for PTSD, headaches as secondary to a psychiatric disability, skin disability, chronic sinusitis, GERD, tinnitus, and hypertension. The claim for blood in stool is denied. The Board has also remanded several issues related to the Veteran's disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and anxiety disorder are granted service connection, and his TDIU claim is granted based on the combined disability evaluation of 70%.

The claims for service connection for headaches, back disability, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left and right upper extremities, and anxiety disorder/depression have been reopened.,The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have also been reopened.