Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to procedural issues and lack of evidence supporting these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to missing a VA audiological examination, providing the Veteran with an opportunity for a new evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding speech recognition scores.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing issues are related to military noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and relevant to the claims of service connection for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and left ear hearing loss. As such, the claims are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and major depressive disorder rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment throughout the appeal period. As a result, he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and effective dates are being remanded due to a duty to assist error.,The matters of an earlier effective date for TDIU and establishing basic eligibility for DEA benefits are also being remanded.

The appeal on the issue of entitlement to service connection for a left hip disability is dismissed.,The appeal on the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right hip disability is dismissed.,The appeal on the issue of entitlement to service connection for a back disability, claimed as a lower back condition is dismissed.,Entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is granted.,The appeals on the issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss. The AOJ should obtain an additional VA examination that includes speech recognition scores based on the Maryland CNC word list, and address whether any current hearing loss found is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, but his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service, with the Board granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's request for an extension of time to file a VA Form 10182 seeking to appeal the April 2021 rating decision was granted. The May 23, 2023 form is deemed timely.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding of nexus between the current disabilities and military service, nor could it be presumed due to the lack of documented hearing loss within one year of discharge.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right ear sensorineural hearing loss is not service-connected, but has ordered a remand to obtain missing STRs and potentially associate them with his file.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to in-service noise exposure and that the Veteran did not have a hearing loss disability during service. The Board also found that the Veteran's current hearing loss does not meet VA criteria for a hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the cases of residuals of a head injury and left ear hearing loss for further development. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again, and an SSOC will include all evidence received since the November 2014 SSOC.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral eye disabilities (cataracts) are not service-connected. The arthritis claim is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Board has remanded several issues, including hypertension, which is suspected to be related to toxic exposure risk activities (TERA) during his Persian Gulf War service.