Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded for further development to establish service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for tinnitus was denied, and his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted with a rating of 10% effective August 23, 2021. The decision does not address the issue of service connection based on exposure to noise during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be reviewed again with a new examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and unverified in-service stressor. The RO is instructed to verify the veteran's military service, reconstruct their medical records, and verify the in-service stressor for PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and denied increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss from September 9, 2021 to March 1, 2022, and from December 21, 2022 to February 18, 2023.,The Veteran's current diagnoses of obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss were not established during the pendency of his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the June 2022 rating decision severing service connection for bilateral hearing loss was improper and remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for low back disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right shoulder disorder, finding that the Veteran did not have current disabilities related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a heart disorder (atrial fibrillation and cardiomyopathy) due to inconsistencies in medical evidence and need for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss as secondary to service-connected tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The appeal for service connection of right ear hearing loss is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD from January 23, 2018 is granted. The appeal for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent prior to March 2, 2020. The most probative evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and prostate disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran will need to provide VA with any relevant medical records, including a July 2012 audiogram, and undergo new examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address the threshold shift in service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable prior to October 14, 2020. The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation based on objective testing results.

The Veteran's claims for left knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, skin rash, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) have been reopened. The Board found new and material evidence in the form of the Veteran's testimony regarding her service experiences and symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be reconsidered with an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable.,The Veteran's left inguinal hernia is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted under the current criteria.,The Veteran's left inguinal hernia scar is rated as 10 percent due to pain, but no higher.

Service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied.,A 20 percent rating, but no higher, for right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with degenerative arthritis is granted.,A compensable (10%) rating for right knee patella tendon repair scar prior to September 16, 2020 is granted.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patella tendon repair scar from September 16, 2020 is denied.,Prior to June 3, 2021, a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patella tendon tear with degenerative joint disease is denied. On and after June 3, 2021, a 40 percent rating, but no higher, for the same condition is granted.