Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have not been fully developed, as requested VA examinations were not conducted. The case is being remanded to schedule these exams.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss has been reopened, and he is now entitled to a 60 percent disability rating for prostate cancer. His erectile dysfunction is also granted, but at a non-compensable level.,His cervical spine condition remains denied, as does his tinnitus. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hearing loss, prostate cancer, and cervical spine condition.,The Veteran's prostate cancer was previously rated at 100 percent, but that rating is now reduced to 20 percent due to a lack of recurrence or metastasis. His erectile dysfunction remains non-compensable.

The Veteran was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and coronary artery disease, prior to July 22, 2019. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss.,The Board denied entitlement to an initial compensable rating for lipomas, bilateral upper and lower extremities prior to January 12, 2022, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter.,The Board denied entitlement to a separate compensable rating for right upper extremity residual scars associated with lipomas.,The Board denied entitlement to a separate compensable rating for left upper extremity residual scars associated with lipomas.,The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent, and no higher, for chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and spinal fusion prior to January 11, 2022.,The Board denied entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and spinal fusion from January 12, 2022.

The Veteran's hearing loss was rated as noncompensable prior to March 21, 2018 and granted a 30% rating from that date. The effective date for the 30% rating is corrected to March 21, 2018.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasoning in the VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The examiner needs clarification on what constitutes a 'significant threshold shift' and how it applies to the Veteran's case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and right leg conditions, have resulted in a permanent and total disability that precludes locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair. The Board has granted eligibility for specially adapted housing (SAH) benefits based on this finding.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD) are all granted. However, his claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability. His claim for neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is also denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is found to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he died during the pendency of his appeal. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted service connection. Service connection for left ear hearing loss and cold injury to the feet are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and his TDIU claim were both denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of entitlement to a TDIU based on service-connected disabilities, as there was insufficient information about the Veteran's employment history and educational background.

The Veteran's appeals for asthma and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of her appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases for another attempt to schedule a VA examination due to the Veteran's failure to report for an initial examination. The examiner is requested to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his exposure to noise trauma in service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran experienced noise exposure during active duty and had continuous symptoms since his separation from service.

The Veteran's claim for a bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded due to the lack of current evidence meeting VA regulatory criteria and the need for an additional VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with the tinnitus being secondary to his service-connected BHL.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to August 15, 2016. The Board denied his claim for TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss due to potential issues with service connection, requiring further evidence such as ship logs and VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for various conditions and hypertension. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed to determine if he currently has these conditions or if they are related to his military service.