Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypertension were granted service connection as they became manifest within one year of his separation from active duty. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and pseudofolliculitis barbae is remanded due to the need for further medical opinions.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to decide the claims for service connection for PTSD, costochondritis, back condition, hearing loss, abdominal pain, hemorrhoids, traumatic brain injury (TBI), left ankle condition, and right knee strain. The Veteran's VA generated evidence will be reviewed in a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability evaluation for sinusitis is denied.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction is denied.,A compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity prior to August 26, 2014, and a rating in excess of 30 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity for the period beginning August 26, 2014, are denied.,Rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity prior to August 26, 2014, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity for the period beginning August 26, 2014, are denied.,Rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity prior to September 7, 2021, and a rating in excess of 40 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity for the period beginning September 7, 2021, are denied.,A 40 percent rating for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity for the period beginning September 7, 2021, and a 40 percent rating for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity for the period beginning September 7, 2021, are granted.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for post-traumatic headaches prior to July 22, 2013, is denied. A rating in excess of 30 percent for post-traumatic headaches for the period beginning July 22, 2013, is also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient reasoning in the June 2018 VA examination.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is considered to be a result of noise exposure during his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and increased rating for a back disability prior to May 9, 2022 are denied. The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 10 percent from the date of service connection.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss prior to November 12, 2021, finding that the evidence did not support such a rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete information and treatment records, as well as verification of his Reserve duty.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of 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 found new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claims of service connection for hepatitis C and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, but additional development is necessary before a decision on the merits can be made.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient evidence. Service connection is granted for kidney cancer, but hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded as there is an inadequate opinion in the VA examination report. Esophageal cancer is also remanded as there is no VA examination or opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for left eye injury with traumatic cataract has been denied. The Board also found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, but remanded for further clarification on whether it is aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus. TDIU was also remanded as the Veteran meets the schedular criteria and needs consideration.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus claims are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability for VA purposes.,Service connection for tinnitus is denied because the Veteran did not have any complaints or treatment related to tinnitus during service, and his current condition is more likely associated with post-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed for the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss claims due to inconsistencies with previous examinations. The Veteran also needs updated VA treatment records, an audiological examination, and a knee disability examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current hearing loss and active-duty service.

Your appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a skin disability, including skin cancer, have been dismissed as you withdrew your appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claim for rhinitis, claimed as a respiratory disorder, is granted. The remaining claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and additional evidence from his therapist.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of right ear hearing loss prior to April 1, 2022, and denied his claim for service connection for radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity. His claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS were also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, deviated septum, residuals of concussion (including TBI), Parkinson's disease, and right ear hearing loss.,There is no evidence linking these conditions to service.