Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral flat feet and plantar fasciitis, right or left ear disorder (to include hearing loss and hyperacusis), right ankle disability, left ankle disability, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, right shoulder disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and headaches were denied, but the claim for dizziness was reopened. The PTSD claim was also reopened.,The Veteran's left ring finger disability rating was restored to 10 percent effective November 1, 2018. Service connection for Meniere's syndrome and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is granted as secondary to service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right thumb disability and left ear hearing loss, are of such character as to clearly interfere with normal employability. The Veteran is granted a 10 percent rating for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis from January 8, 2016 to April 26, 2016 due to his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran was also granted a schedular TDIU from April 27, 2016 to February 15, 2022.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was initially rated at 0 percent prior to October 4, 2021. From October 4, 2021 to April 21, 2022, a higher 20 percent rating is granted. Since then, the highest possible rating of 20 percent has been maintained.

The appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including review of new evidence submitted by the Veteran's attorney. The AOJ will be asked to issue a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Board has granted service connection for asthma, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's asthma is linked to his in-service exposure to a chemical agent, tinnitus is attributed to noise exposure during service, and his hearing loss is presumed to have worsened due to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss and a psychiatric condition, to include PTSD, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's IBS is rated at 30 percent, the maximum available rating under VA guidelines.,Service connection for CFS (now claimed as fatigue) has been granted. The claim was denied previously due to failure to appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent from July 26, 2021. The Board denied the claims for higher ratings prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of VA treatment records and audiograms. The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 30, 2018, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter, as well as service connection for right ear hearing loss, are now pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence demonstrating a direct relationship between his in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is currently manifested by Level I hearing acuity, bilaterally.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), and a separate compensable rating for gastritis due to incomplete development and lack of adequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have current right ear hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The left ear hearing loss issue is remanded due to a lack of recent examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and prostate cancer due to a lack of an examination addressing the nature and etiology of these conditions. The Veteran is not considered a 'radiation-exposed veteran' under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(d)(3).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an examination for bilateral hearing loss, and the need to schedule a VA audiology examination at the closest VA facility.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service and the Board has granted entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete VA examinations and the need for addendum opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss disability and skin conditions.