Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure causing permanent auditory damage. The examiner concluded it was less likely than not that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability was caused by or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examination and unclear speech discrimination test results. The case is being returned to VA for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and an addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's current hearing loss and back disability are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and a new examination, as well as the need to obtain service connection for dizziness.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for sarcoidosis, sickle cell anemia, bilateral hearing loss, vision disability, flat feet, acquired psychiatric disability, insomnia, heart disability, hepatitis C, and kidney disability is granted with effective dates ranging from November 25, 2013 to the date of grant. The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded his claim for service connection for asthma due to insufficient evidence in the current examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeals for effective dates earlier than December 8, 2017 for the award of service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board has also remanded several issues including service connection for hearing loss of the right ear, lung disability, skin disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, lumbar spine disability, and hearing loss of the left ear.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's right knee disability, secondary to his left knee disability, is granted as service-connected.,An effective date prior to August 12, 2016, for the assignment of a 10 percent rating for residuals of left knee sprain is denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year of separation and is not shown to be causally related to an in-service event.,The Veteran's psoriasis may have worsened since the last examination. A new VA examination is needed to determine its current nature and severity.,Spinal stenosis, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, and glaucoma are all potentially related to herbicide exposure during service. Further evaluation is required to establish a connection.,COPD and pulmonary fibrosis may be related to the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea. A new VA examination is needed to evaluate these conditions.,Pulmonary fibrosis and COPD are both related to the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea. Further evaluation is required to establish a connection.,Glaucoma is not service-connected as it may be due to refractive error, which cannot be subject to herbicide exposure presumption.,Obstructive sleep apnea is inextricably intertwined with the Veteran's claims for COPD and pulmonary fibrosis. These claims must be remanded first.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including obtaining VA treatment records since July 2017 and considering service connection for memory impairment/dementia and balance issues as secondary to bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted, with the case being remanded to determine if a current disability exists and its etiology.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to missing audiometric testing results from October 2020 onwards. The Veteran's hearing loss conditions are still under review.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus was dismissed. The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was granted, and his claim for hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been manifested by hearing impairment corresponding to no worse than auditory acuity Level I in the right ear and Level I in the left ear. The Board finds that there has been substantial compliance with the July 2021 remand directives, but ultimately denies an initial compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during his active duty service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bronchial asthma is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,For his bilateral hearing loss disability, the Board has ordered additional medical opinions to address whether delayed onset hearing loss is attributable to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is seeking service connection for this condition, which he claims was caused by noise exposure during his military service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, GERD, thyroid disorder, fibromyalgia, cholecystitis, skin disorders, and joint issues is granted. The decision also remands the claims for an eye disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and other related secondary service connection claims.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding insufficient evidence to establish a current disability for VA purposes and no causal link between in-service noise exposure and the conditions.