Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from November 18, 2014 to October 31, 2016. Effective from this date, the Veteran was awarded a TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be reviewed again with a new opinion from an appropriate VA examiner.

The Veteran's dermoid tumor status post removal is granted service connection, while his bilateral hearing loss prior to October 24, 2018 and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but has remanded his claims for residuals of a right index finger condition and TMJ.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus need to be remanded due to insufficient evidence in their current state.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's credible report of an in-service onset and continuity of symptomatology is sufficient to establish service connection. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of a causal relationship between current hearing loss and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on his audiometric test results. The Veteran was currently rated at 10 percent for both timeframes on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection was not granted for bilateral hearing loss, and a noncompensable rating remains in effect.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and lower extremity disorder were not shown to be related to service, while GERD and COPD/bronchitis were diagnosed during his lifetime.,Service connection for the claimed conditions is being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has worsened since the last VA examination, and a new evaluation is needed to determine his current severity.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated at 20 percent since November 25, 2019. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted as the audiometric results do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted due to the establishment of a causal relationship between his current conditions and military noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for left ear hearing loss due to inadequate VA medical opinions and incomplete records. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right knee disability due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature of his service-connected conditions and exposure. The Veteran is required to provide an addendum VA opinion addressing qualifying and contradictory aspects of a 2006 IOM report on noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as updated VA treatment records for his right knee.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a thyroid disability was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted, but the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent.,Service connection for gout is denied as there is no evidence it began during active service or is related to a service-connected condition.,Service connection for a back disability is denied due to lack of evidence that it began during active service or is related to a service-connected condition.,Service connection for a prostate disability is denied as there is no evidence it began during active service or is related to a service-connected condition.,Service connection for a kidney disability is denied as there is no evidence it began during active service or is related to a service-connected condition.,Service connection for a left ankle disability is denied due to lack of evidence that it began during active service or is related to a service-connected condition.,Service connection for a right knee disability is denied due to lack of evidence that it began during active service or is related to a service-connected condition.,Service connection for headaches and obstructive sleep apnea are granted as they are caused by the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.,Effective dates prior to July 9, 2015, for bilateral hearing loss and left knee osteoarthritis are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability due to outstanding VA treatment records that may include relevant evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss disability as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability has been rated as 0 percent (noncompensable) throughout the appeal period, with Level I acuity in both ears. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss was aggravated during service and whether it had its onset or is related to any in-service disease, event, or injury.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, left ear hearing loss, and orchialgia are remanded due to worsening symptoms. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.