Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The Board has also remanded cases involving service connection, TDIU, and special monthly compensation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability, as well as the propriety of severance of service connection for left knee instability. The Veteran is to be provided with a more contemporaneous medical examination for his hearing loss and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU prior to October 1, 2021 was denied as the evidence did not show he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due solely to his service-connected disabilities from October 12, 2020, to October 1, 2021.

The Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and MDD are all granted. The MDD is found to be secondary to service-connected disabilities including right knee DJD, right thumb fracture with residuals, and left fifth finger degenerative arthritis.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete audiometric data and an inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to service. The AOJ must obtain missing records, provide a new VA examination if necessary, and request an addendum opinion from the examiner.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of audiometric test results from a VA audiology assessment that could determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of sleep apnea, right shoulder disability, PTSD, lumbar strain, bilateral hearing loss, and GERD.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence supports a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss but granted it for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for left foot fungus, right foot fungus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), penis fungus, groin fungus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease (IHD) due to improper docketing of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received. The issues of service connection for various conditions are now pending.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for additional development, including obtaining records from his former employer Shell Oil.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining additional VA clinical records and a VA audiological evaluation to determine the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and the etiology of any tinnitus. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for his service-connected disabilities and clarification on when he should have received effective dates.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions alone do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating of 20 percent for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the evidence did not support an assignment of a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and cancer of the left tonsil, both related to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was diagnosed during service with significant threshold shifts, meeting VA criteria for a disability. His cancer of the left tonsil is presumed to be due to his exposure to herbicides.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for phimosis of the foreskin and anemia. A compensable rating was also granted for coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to inadequate examination opinions and procedural issues.