Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a neck disability, bilateral hearing loss, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been withdrawn for several conditions, including hearing loss, left knee condition, right knee condition, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, left foot condition, and right foot condition. The claims for varicose veins, lower back condition, left ankle sprain, and right ankle sprain are granted.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a lower back condition is being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including providing the Veteran and his representative with a copy of the curriculum vitae of the VA examiner who conducted the January 14, 2020 examination related to hepatitis C.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for precancerous polyps of the colon due to contaminated water at Camp LeJeune, an initial evaluation higher than 10 percent for restless leg syndrome in both legs, and a skin disease related to Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran's hearing loss and PTSD claims are also on remand.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, but the appeal is remanded. The Veteran's PTSD rating remains at 50 percent.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain new VA examinations and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The current examination and opinion provided by the July 2018 examiner are deemed inadequate.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to March 4, 2019 due to insufficient evidence showing he was unable to secure and follow gainful employment because of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss on a presumptive basis as the Veteran's symptoms began in service and have continued since then.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent. The Board denied higher ratings for both conditions, finding that they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension, finding no evidence of current disabilities under VA regulations and insufficient medical evidence to support a link between the conditions and active service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to his death before a decision could be made.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than June 29, 2015 for the assignment of a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than June 29, 2015 for grant of service connection for residuals of right wrist fracture with degenerative joint disease is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, left foot and right foot peripheral neuropathy, bilateral knee peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during service. The RO is instructed to obtain deck logs from ships involved in the Veteran's service and confirm his presence at sea off the coast of Vietnam.

The Veteran was granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, but denied service connection for glaucoma and bilateral hearing loss. The Board also remanded cases involving cataracts, hypertension, and kidney disease related to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.,Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure, with no opinion on whether it is secondary to diabetes.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of bilateral hearing loss and TDIU, including obtaining audiogram results and SSA records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cataracts and dry eyes, and other conditions, are found to be of sufficient severity to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment for the period prior to September 17, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened and granted. His prostate cancer residuals were also granted a rating of 60 percent, effective from March 1, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's decreased hearing related to his military service is a present disability incurred during active duty.