Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's initial disability rating for left ear hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not support a compensable rating.,The Veteran's initial disability rating for left thumb tendonitis was granted at a noncompensable level.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the appellant withdrew her request for a hearing and requested to withdraw her appeal regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a skin disorder of the right ear, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD is also remanded as there are VA treatment records that have not been obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, OSA, and hemorrhoids due to insufficient examination reports. The AOJ is instructed to review additional evidence added since the February 2021 supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to inadequate medical examinations in the past, and because of the interrelated nature of these conditions. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine if he currently has left ear hearing loss that meets VA criteria for a disability, as well as whether his current right ear hearing loss is related to service noise exposure.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective February 22, 2010 due to her service-connected Traumatic Brain Injury and other disabilities preventing her from securing or maintaining employment.

The Board has determined that additional development is required for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left wrist, status post fracture; service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus; and service connection for left shoulder osteoarthritis. The Veteran will need new VA examinations for these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions began during service and have been recurrent 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 Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and arthritis of the left shoulder due to incomplete compliance with previous directives.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss as there is no current disability in this ear, based on audiometric results that do not meet the criteria for a hearing loss disability under VA regulations.

The Veteran's hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The cases for pes planus, peripheral neuropathy in all four extremities, and a psychiatric disability (including PTSD) are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD and other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder are granted service connection. Service connection for COPD, bilateral hearing loss, and skin condition (to include squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma) is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss began during his military service and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as the evidence did not show that his hearing impairment warranted a higher rating prior to December 3, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and right ear hearing loss, finding no increase in pre-existing hearing loss during service and no evidence of noise exposure that would support a presumption of service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss disability and remanded the issue of service connection for residuals of a cold weather injury of the right big toe due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service in Korea.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to August 21, 2019 was denied. From August 21, 2019 onwards, the Veteran's hearing loss was rated as noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is not related to service and therefore denied. The hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion. The cluster headache disability is also remanded.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the June 2021 directives and thus remanded for further examination. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service exposure.