Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. Left ear hearing loss is granted, but right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions have been remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure resulting in current hearing impairment.,The Veteran's asthma is remanded for further development and an opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but further development is needed before adjudicating their merits. The claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus remains remanded as new and material evidence was received.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at a 10 percent disability rating effective November 6, 2022. The Board also granted the claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) for the entire period of appeal.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to address the Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss, as there was a duty-to-assist error related to the timing of evidence submission.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error and remands the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to conflicting evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's hearing was normal at separation, but he reported noise exposure during service. His current hearing loss is not linked to service, and his tinnitus is not related to his hearing loss.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right ankle sprain, left ankle sprain, bilateral foot disability, back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and right knee condition are related to service. However, due to inadequate opinions from VA examiners regarding these conditions, the cases have been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the claim of service connection for colon cancer with metastasis due to conflicting DD214 records.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to errors in pre-decisional duty to assist. Additional VA examinations are needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, including any potential aggravation by service-connected sarcoidosis or exposure to toxins during military service.

The Board has denied a higher initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's hearing impairment did not exceed noncompensable levels during both the initial and increased rating periods.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including left and right ankle disabilities, residuals of traumatic brain injury, vertigo, and cold exposure-related disabilities. The issues related to cervical spine, shoulder, wrist, low back, hip, knee, pes planus, hallux valgus, and headache were remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically failing to consider the Veteran's vertigo and dizziness complaints related to his right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded several claims for increased ratings and service connection due to duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining private treatment records and VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no current diagnosis of hearing loss in either ear.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to concerns about the adequacy of the November 2023 VA audiological evaluation, which may have been compromised by improper testing conditions and unprofessional behavior from the examiner. The Veteran should be afforded another VA audiological evaluation.