Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral leg shin splints, bilateral knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and a condition manifested by frequent urination. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing an in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted effective April 17, 2017. Service connection was established for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide agent exposure and secondary to diabetes mellitus, and anxiety disorder.,Anxiety disorder is also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, which may be related to service exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for residual scar, excision of neoplasm posterior neck was denied as the evidence did not show at least one characteristic of disfigurement.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied because there is no current diagnosis and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran had hearing loss during service or due to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for a cervical spine disorder is granted, with the Board finding that the current disability is related to active service.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for short-term memory loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been assigned a 10 percent disability rating, and the claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent is denied. The left ear hearing loss disability remains unresolved due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is reopened, and the case is remanded to determine if it is related to his service-connected rhinitis.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. The decision is based on the benefit-of-the-doubt doctrine, as there was no post-service medical evidence of complaints or treatment for right ear hearing loss and no competent evidence indicating right ear hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether PTSD aggravated dementia, which was a contributing factor to the Veteran's death. The Veteran had service-connected disabilities but did not meet the legal criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military service, with the claims being granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for an asbestos-related lung condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The VA determined that the Veteran’s hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with Level II hearing in both ears.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skin disorder, PTSD, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities meeting the criteria for service connection on a direct basis.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of a separate 10 percent rating for cranial nerve VII due to Frey Syndrome should not be earlier than March 2, 2015. The Veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service connected. The appeal for an increased initial rating for PTSD is dismissed.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 6260, resulting in a denial of an increased rating.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated at 30 percent since February 2015 and no higher ratings are supported by the evidence.,The RO reduced the Veteran’s post-traumatic headaches from 10 to 0 percent effective February 27, 2015 without proper notice or a proposed rating reduction, making this reduction void ab initio. The disability rating of 10 percent is restored as of February 27, 2015.,The Veteran's disfigurement from a right occipital scar and tender right occipital scar are both rated at the maximum allowable under their respective diagnostic codes (38 C.F.R. § 4.118).,The effective date for the grant of TDIU is granted as March 7, 2007.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the absence of a current disability. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was granted, and his claim for sleep apnea is remanded.,Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding its etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.,The Veteran’s migraine and tension headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, reflecting prostrating attacks occurring several times per month.