Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and neurological disorder in the extremities have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions, and the evidence does not support a finding that they are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that his claim for a compensable rating is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board denied a higher rating and an earlier effective date.,There was no formal or informal claim for an increased rating prior to October 18, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for hemorrhoids. The remaining issues of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, EAC (skin condition), and a right knee condition are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was denied for a compensable rating prior to July 18, 2019 and for any increased rating.,Service connection for skin conditions of the bilateral feet and gout were both denied.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 19, 2017 for hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of an earlier notice of intent to file or application for service connection.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided in August 2016 is inadequate to fairly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The decision is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion considering both ASA and ISO-ANSI standards, as well as a specific medical article.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to his military service. The claim for diabetes mellitus, type II has been reopened and is now pending as the Veteran provided new evidence suggesting he served in Vietnam.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to have been caused by his service in Vietnam based on his reported exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the Veteran reporting worsening symptoms since his last examination in August 2018. The VA needs to schedule an updated assessment and obtain his May 3, 2016 audiometric test results.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied. The claim for a higher initial disability rating for tinnitus remains pending, as does the referral for TDIU due to tinnitus.

The Board has found the audiologist's opinion inadequate and remanded for further action on the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran is presumed to have been in sound condition upon entry into active duty, but her left ear hearing loss may be related to service due to a pre-existing condition. Right ear hearing loss is also considered as possibly related to service based on noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his severe back pain and heart condition, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 0 percent for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and vertigo, to include as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss, have been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a lumbosacral strain, a cervical strain, right foot metatarsalgia, left foot metatarsalgia, and residuals of an injured ring finger of the left hand. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they are related to his active duty service, specifically noise exposure. The case requires further medical evaluation to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to outstanding VA medical records and the need for addendum VA opinions.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine, eye, lumbar spine, right shoulder, and bilateral hearing loss conditions have been denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition related to service.,New evidence received since the most recent denial does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate any of these claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. The issue of service connection for migraines is remanded, as well as the TDIU claim due to its interrelatedness with the other issues.