Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for SMC-AA/HB and service connection for urinary frequency secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain with spinal stenosis is being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The appellant withdrew their appeal for service connection of a bilateral hearing loss disability before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, as well as a higher rating for left knee strain. The Board has dismissed these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine strain, lumbosacral strain with associated sciatica, bilateral hip and knee disabilities, chronic ankle disabilities, foot problems, hypertension, migraine headaches, MDD, and PTSD due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to obtain examinations or opinions where the low threshold of McLendon was met.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as 0 percent disabling, and the Board found no evidence of worsening or other circumstances warranting a higher rating.

The Board has dismissed all appeals as the Veteran died while his appeal was pending.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show a current disability.,Service connection for headaches and bleeding ears were both denied because there is no persuasive evidence of current disabilities.,No additional development was needed due to lack of service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a retrospective VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss disability from the date of service connection to May 29, 2015. The appeal is not about service connection but rather about rating criteria.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss began during active service and the Board has determined that it meets the criteria for service connection.

The Board has found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his active service and has granted entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral pes cavus, Raynaud's phenomenon, and right lung lower lobe granuloma are not rated higher than the current noncompensable ratings. The claim for migraines has been dismissed.,The Veteran's service-connected right lung lower lobe granuloma remains at a noncompensable rating. The claims for chronic fatigue syndrome and left knee strain have been remanded.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted, but the Veteran's other claims remain pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his bilateral lower extremity neuropathy due to diabetes mellitus, have resulted in loss of use of both lower extremities. The Board has granted eligibility for specially adapted housing and dismissed the claim for a special home adaptation grant as moot.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but remanded the claim for COPD with emphysema due to insufficient evidence.

The appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The claim for a temporary total evaluation based on spinal fusion surgery of the L4-S1 vertebrae is granted. The issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for DJD, lumbosacral spine with S/P spine fusion of L4-S1, is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA's definition of hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The claims were previously denied in a November 2022 rating decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began in service and has persisted, thus granting service connection for tinnitus. The decision on bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining service personnel records and determining participation in a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) during service. The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss will be reconsidered with these issues addressed.