Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examination and opinion in previous decisions.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The case is now remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is denied, while his bilateral hearing loss case requires additional medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's lay statements and private treatment records provide sufficient evidence to establish a link between his military noise exposure and his current hearing disability. The claim was reopened due to new evidence submitted since the prior final denial.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Board also noted that both conditions did not manifest within a presumptive period following separation from service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the Board is remanding this issue.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen claims of service connection for a skin disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than unspecified anxiety disorder with depression, a stomach disorder, a neck disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The Board is remanding these claims as well.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for his bilateral hearing loss, left total knee replacement, and right total knee replacement due to insufficient development of evidence. The claims are being remanded for additional VA examinations and consideration.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's hearing was normal at separation and there is no evidence of a nexus between current hearing loss and military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's high cholesterol is not considered a disability for VA compensation purposes, so his claim of service connection for this condition must be denied. For the other conditions, the Board found that additional development is needed including examinations and etiology opinions.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection on all issues except TDIU and DEA benefits, which have been granted with earlier effective dates.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's testimony, private audiologist opinion, and service treatment records indicating shifts in hearing acuity.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 20 percent effective December 20, 2018. The rating for the condition in excess of 30 percent from February 10, 2020 is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum opinion regarding service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The decision on compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess its severity, as the last one was conducted in December 2016 and does not reflect current condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, and gunshot wounds to the hip and leg, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work experience.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was not found to meet the criteria for service connection as his audiometric results did not indicate a disability level of at least 40 decibels in any frequency range.,The VA examiner determined that the bilateral gynecomastia is more likely than not caused by medication used to treat a service-connected skin condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right leg condition is denied as there is no current disability that began during or approximate to the pendency of the claim, beyond those already encompassed by other issues on appeal.,The Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for synovitis with femoro-acetabular impingement, pincer-type, right hip; limitation of flexion and extension of thigh, right hip; and service connection for a spinal disability, to include a coccyx condition, are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the Board has remanded this issue.,The Veteran's low back disability (IVDS with spondylosis and degenerative disc disease) warrants a rating of at least 40 percent from July 12, 2012. The evidence is evenly balanced as to whether his symptomatology more nearly approximates flexion to 30 degrees or less.,The Veteran's right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy does not warrant a higher than 20 percent rating.,The Veteran's left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy does not warrant a higher than 10 percent rating.