Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous VA examination report regarding the cause of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The case is now returned for further review with an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as he does not have a current disability.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (insomnia) is denied due to lack of evidence showing the condition during or proximate to the appeal period, and because alcohol dependence is not service-connected.,The issue of service connection for a left eye disability has been remanded as there are conflicting opinions regarding the presence of a current disability.,Service connection for low back joint pain, right knee joint pain, left knee joint pain, right ankle joint pain, and left shoulder joint pain have all been remanded due to insufficient evidence or lack of proper examination.,reasoning_1_sentence_service_connection_for_bilateral_hearing_loss_and_acquired_psychiatric_disorder_direct,confidence_score_0.9

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right shoulder arthritis and hypertension have been withdrawn.,Service connection has not been established for alcohol abuse, right ear hearing loss, bilateral flat feet, penile condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, or a left hand condition.

The appeal for service connection on all issues except hypertension has been dismissed. The claim for reopening of the previously denied claim for service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, gastritis, left and right knee disabilities, sinusitis with headaches, left foot scar, and adjustment disorder with anxiety are not supported by evidence of a current disability. The issues have been remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Board has determined that the current bilateral hearing loss claim requires additional evidence and a new medical opinion due to inconsistencies in the IOM report regarding delayed onset hearing loss, as well as other factors contributing to hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, but the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria, and the Veteran's hearing did not change by more than 10 decibels during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The claim for left ear hearing loss is dismissed as the Veteran did not timely express disagreement with the November 12, 2021, VA decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service records show noise exposure during his military service, but there is uncertainty about whether a significant threshold shift occurred during service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced for a finding of in-service onset.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he does not meet the criteria for a current disability under VA regulations.,The Veteran's claim for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was granted as there is at least equipoise evidence that his symptoms began during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant due to lack of loss of use, blindness, burns, ALS, inhalation injury, or other permanent and total disability.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected PTSD, bilateral knee disability, prostate condition, hypertension, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board finds that these disabilities prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not undergo an increase in severity during service, and thus cannot be granted service connection. The lumbosacral strain issue is remanded for further examination. TDIU is also remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear and left ear hearing loss, finding that her current bilateral hearing loss is related to her military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations. The issues include bilateral foot disability, left hand and left arm disabilities, and bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right ear hearing loss, as well as tinnitus on a substitution basis due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Veteran's hearing loss is related to his military service, while his tinnitus was also linked to his time in service.