Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, wrist and knee conditions, hip conditions, elbow conditions, sleep apnea, and shoulder impingement syndrome have been dismissed. The Veteran's service-connected left Achilles tendonitis has been granted a rating of 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for bladder cancer was denied as the liberalizing regulations became effective on March 14, 2017.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded and will be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased evaluations and service connection due to lack of recent VA treatment records, undelivered correspondence, and failure to report a scheduled hearing.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The left ear hearing loss has not met the criteria for service connection.,Service connection is granted for bilateral pes planus, but the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic headache disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss is more likely than not caused by noise exposure during his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (vertigo) as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and for a compensable disability rating prior to February 6, 2019 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for bilateral hearing loss. The remand requires the provision of adequate VA opinions on whether the Veteran's vertigo is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is due to his in-service exposure to hazardous noise. The decision resolves the benefit of doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, and brain disability due to discrepancies in audiometric testing results and incomplete medical records. The Veteran will need to provide additional information about his treatment history and undergo further examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to service connection issues. The Veteran's current hearing loss disability is not shown as having been incurred during or within one year after her military service, nor is there evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right hand tendonitis, and left hand tendonitis are remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, remanded the issues of service connection for a headache disorder and tinnitus (to include as secondary to bilateral hearing loss and/or a headache disorder), and found that these claims are not granted due to lack of evidence showing causation or etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 9, 2019. As such, the Board has granted a TDIU for this period.

The Board has restored the 30 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss effective May 12, 2022 and denied a higher rating. The Veteran's hearing impairment was rated at level VII in the right ear and level IV in the left ear during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound was denied as he does not meet the criteria for SMC due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the Veteran is not permanently bedridden, in need of regular aid and attendance, or so helpless as to be in need of such assistance.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of assigning a compensable evaluation for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's VR&E benefits claim is remanded due to a significant change in his disability picture and the need for an updated vocational evaluation.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's prostate condition is presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, but the VA examiner found no direct link between his prostate condition and erectile dysfunction.,The Board has remanded the claims for a prostate disability (presumptive) and erectile dysfunction (secondary to prostate disability), as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.,The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU as his combined service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) amount to 60 percent. The Board also concludes that he is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and bilateral hearing loss ratings are being remanded for additional development, including a new examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.