Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's migraines are granted with a 30 percent evaluation from May 8, 2021. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left ankle strain, right knee pain, and thoracolumbar strain (low back pain).

The Veteran's sinusitis and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded for further examination and opinion as the PACT Act was not in effect at the time of the November 2021 rating decision. Service connection is granted for sinusitis pursuant to the PACT Act.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and remanded the claim of service connection for hypogonadism due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's current disabilities are not related to toxic exposure risk activities during service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a heart condition, type II diabetes mellitus, and leukemia due to potential in-service toxic exposures. The AOJ is instructed to develop evidence related to these claims, including obtaining TERA examinations and opinions.

The Board dismissed all appeals related to various conditions as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was reopened due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. Service connection is granted for this condition. The claim for right ear hearing loss remains denied as there is no current disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the claim for tinnitus was granted. The case of GERD is being remanded.,Service connection for tinnitus has been established based on a May 2023 rating decision.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA's criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right ankle disabilities, bilateral knee strains, and lumbar strain have been granted. However, the Veteran's right ear hearing loss has not met the criteria for a compensable disability rating.,The Board found that there is no evidence of current right ear hearing loss meeting VA criteria for disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or service-connected conditions.,For right knee strain, the claim is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion prior to the August 2022 rating decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The left ankle disability, to include degenerative changes, is denied as not being secondary to his service-connected right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain. Other claims are either denied or granted.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss due to the lack of audiometric findings meeting VA disability criteria. The claim for left ear hearing loss is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, finding that his service-connected conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on the objective medical evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability as defined by VA standards, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition. The claim for tinnitus was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including major depressive disorder with anxious distress and mild neurocognitive disorder, migraines, bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis and lumbosacral strain (sciatica), right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, right hip degenerative arthritis, and left hip degenerative arthritis have been denied. The decision does not address service connection for specific conditions like obstructive sleep apnea, gout, or diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are now remanded for further evaluation.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an increased rating for right knee degenerative joint disease and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical examinations and incomplete evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board remands the claim for an adequate VA examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, including conceded in-service noise exposure.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of prostate cancer, and a right knee disorder is granted.,The Veteran's claims are supported by evidence showing in-service noise exposure and service treatment records documenting injuries to the knees.