Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the record. The VA will conduct a new examination and obtain etiological opinions regarding the onset and relationship of these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric results did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, Persistent Depressive Disorder with Intermittent Major Depressive Episodes and Other Specified Trauma and Stressor Related Disorder, and Left Ear Hearing Loss have been granted. The service connection is presumed based on combat exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for both hearing loss and skin cancer are inadequate, and thus remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete records and need for clarification of duty status during a period of TDY.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right and left foot disorders, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to incomplete verification of her Reserve service periods. The Board will consider the evidence in light of these new findings.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder and hearing loss/tinnitus disabilities prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Board has found that a remand is necessary for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim due to an old VA examination, and also because TDIU prior to November 13, 2020 is inextricably intertwined with his hearing loss claim.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and private treatment reports.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, a right leg disorder (snake bite), low back disorder, gout, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, major depressive disorder, and migraine headaches. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year of discharge, and the Veteran's assertions regarding secondary service connection were not supported by medical evidence.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for bilateral hearing loss as well as his TDIU claim have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his hearing loss prior to January 3, 2022.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 60 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The claim for TDIU was also denied as the evidence does not show that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and whether it manifested within one year after separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing right ear hearing loss was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The hernia disability, abdominal scar, fibromyalgia, acquired psychiatric disability (pending), left shoulder disability (pending), right shoulder disability (pending), left arm disability (pending), right arm disability (pending), left elbow disability (pending), right elbow disability (pending), disability of the small finger, left hand (pending), cervical spine disability (pending), left ankle disability (pending), right ankle disability (pending), left foot skin disability (pending), and right foot skin disability (pending) were not granted. The Veteran's claims for service connection for sinus disability (pending), bilateral eye disability (pending), disability of the left eye cornea (pending), bilateral hearing loss disability (pending), tinnitus (pending), vertigo (pending), headaches (pending), and sleep apnea (pending) are pending.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all issues related to hearing loss, PTSD, and right hip disability. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, hearing loss, tinnitus, a lung condition due to asbestos exposure, and non-prostrating posttraumatic headaches. The cases are being remanded because the examinations conducted were not by specialists in psychiatry, neurology, or neurosurgery as required by VA policy for TBI claims.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent (non-compensable) due to audiometric testing results which, when combined with the non-service-connected right ear, merit a Roman numeral of I.,The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is currently rated as ten percent (10%) due to diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more requiring continuous medication for control.

The Board has denied the claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the claims of service connection for vitiligo and arthritis of the hands and wrist. The Veteran will need to undergo additional examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions and missing records. The Veteran must undergo further examinations and provide additional evidence.