Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service and does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration of his service-connected disabilities, including their impact on employment.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inconsistencies in the medical opinion provided. The examiner needs to address whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his acoustic trauma during military service, considering the missing reading at 3000 Hz at separation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. The issue of service connection for hepatitis, auto immune is remanded.

The Veteran's skin disorder, cellulitis, is denied as there is no current diagnosis and the VA examiner found no ongoing condition.,The Veteran's hearing loss of the right ear is denied due to lack of a current disability meeting VA criteria for disability.,The Veteran's hearing loss of the left ear is denied due to lack of a current disability meeting VA criteria for disability.,The Veteran's chest muscle disorder, including residuals of costochondritis, is denied as there is no current diagnosis and the VA examiner found no ongoing condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 0 percent prior to May 9, 2017 and 10 percent from that date. The Veteran's lumbar strain disability is rated at 10 percent prior to May 15, 2017 and 20 percent from that date.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on his bilateral hearing loss and lumbar strain disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as related to service. The bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and hearing loss disability are denied.,The Board finds that remands are warranted for the claims of vertigo, Meniere's disease, respiratory disabilities, and TDIU due to inextricability.

The Board granted service connection for residuals of a left groin injury and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 50 percent, effective May 25, 2018. The Board denied a higher rating as the evidence did not show that his hearing loss was more severe than what was reflected by his previously assigned evaluations.,The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent, effective May 25, 2018. The Board denied a higher rating as the evidence did not show that his disability manifested to warrant a higher rating prior to the VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. However, the claims for both bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as they are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to inadequate investigation of the claimed stressor and need for additional medical examination.

The Board has decided to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, but has remanded it due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to August 17, 2017 for service connection of high frequency sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus. The effective dates assigned are based on the date of receipt of the intent to file a claim.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating greater than 10 percent prior to March 3, 2016, and greater than 20 percent thereafter, for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The evidence does not support assigning higher ratings during either period of time at issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss began during his military service and is related to noise exposure, leading to a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Sarasota Memorial Hospital and North Port Emergency Care Center on October 14, 2016 is granted. The treatment was provided in a hospital emergency department due to severe lower extremity pain and swelling related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for high frequency sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection. The Veteran's preexisting hearing loss is alleged not to have been aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and tinnitus, have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for further consideration, including a review of whether the effective date should be prior to May 15, 2017.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims for various conditions as the appellant died during the appeal process.