Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) and a lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for service-connected retropatellar pain syndrome of the left knee prior to February 8, 2011, and greater than 10 percent thereafter is denied. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU claim is part of an increased disability rating claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's terminal hospital reports and missing February 2017 rating action. The appellant’s claims for service connection are also remanded due to an incomplete list of dates the Veteran served on active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lupus, tuberculosis, bone spurs, optical condition, hernias, sleep issues, and mental conditions have been denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the previously denied claims.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination and interpretation of private audiogram results.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and headaches were denied in October 1985. He later submitted new evidence to reopen these claims in September 1992 and February 1996, respectively.,An effective date of December 27, 1995 was assigned for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of audiometric testing, as well as the need for an examination to determine if these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, leading to a grant of SMC. The issue of rating for recurrent lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease is remanded due to evidence suggesting worsening.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle strain, back strain, and bilateral hearing loss disability as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions in the record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, a bowel disorder, and hemorrhoids due to incomplete development of records and failure to notify the Veteran of an upcoming VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration disability benefits information.

The Board dismissed all appeals related to left ear hearing loss, left foot plantar fasciitis, right ear hearing loss, and the rating for right foot plantar fasciitis. The appeal regarding a higher rating for IVDS with DDD of the thoracolumbar spine is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability due to inconsistencies in audiometric testing and conflicting opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 17, 2014, for the 100 percent evaluation assigned for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found no evidence of a factually ascertainable increase in disability prior to July 17, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at zero percent throughout the appeal period, as his audiometric test results do not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that additional evaluations are needed for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, coronary artery disease, and PTSD due to incomplete medical records and inconsistencies in the examinations provided.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the cases of bilateral hearing loss and rash of the hands and feet are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The case of residuals of stroke is also remanded.