Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to November 2, 2020, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter is being remanded due to the lack of complete VA audiological examination records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to acoustic trauma incurred during combat service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's heart disability, prostate cancer, diabetes, bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing they were incurred or aggravated by his military service.,Specifically, the Board found insufficient evidence to support a finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his time in Thailand. The Veteran's service records do not indicate he had any ongoing problems with these conditions while in service and there is no other competent medical evidence suggesting an association to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, hypertension, lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder disability, right elbow disability, and right wrist disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tuberculosis is also being remanded due to the need for an examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service acoustic trauma, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for CAD, CLL, generalized anxiety disorder, and hypertension due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during his naval service.

The Board has found service connection for tinnitus and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine as secondary to service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to outstanding medical records and inextricably intertwined with other pending claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 40 percent, but no higher. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a higher rating for his hearing loss. For the low back and left knee disabilities, additional development is needed as there are incomplete VA examination reports.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, as there is insufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that he is unemployable because of his service-connected disabilities. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection, increased ratings, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right elbow disability, left elbow disability, and sleep apnea are currently under review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a bilateral knee disability have been reopened. The Board has ordered remand for further development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations to address the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and remanded the issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and medical opinion. The previous July 1998 rating decision denying service connection remains final, but the case has been reopened as new evidence was received since then.

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

The Veteran's entitlement to a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to February 18, 2017 was denied. A 10 percent disability rating, but no higher, was granted from February 18, 2017 onwards.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his hearing was more severe than currently rated during the period at issue.