Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to tinnitus is being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and correction of a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and foot disorder claims have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.,Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria. The back disorder claim remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD with alcohol use disorder, and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the regulatory criteria for a current hearing loss disability in either ear, his PTSD symptoms did not warrant an initial rating higher than 50 percent, and his tinnitus met the schedular criteria for a maximum 10 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology. The Veteran is not shown to have current left ear hearing loss or tinnitus, and his tinnitus was not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is denied for psychiatric disability, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, and right knee.,Service connection was not established for a psychiatric disability, sleep apnea, or high blood pressure due to lack of evidence of such conditions during the pendency of the claim. Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss (BHL) disability due to the need for a medical nexus opinion regarding its etiology. The Veteran's BHL disability is currently diagnosed, and the examiner should provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not related to service or secondary to his service-connected bilateral tinnitus.

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

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right ear and left ear. The Veteran's tinnitus is considered to have been incurred during service. However, the VA audiological examinations did not show a current disability of bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA criteria.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are currently rated at 60 percent and do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ruptured ear drums and a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal as to the proposal to reduce the rating for service-connected right-handed carpal tunnel syndrome. The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and painful scars of the hands were all denied or granted with specific ratings.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for low back injury, scoliosis, hearing loss, and tinnitus due to new evidence received after the February 2022 rating decision. The VA examiner is requested to provide a supplemental opinion considering the Veteran's lay statements regarding his in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors and recent passage of the PACT Act. The appellant's service connection claims will be reconsidered in light of these issues.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.,The Veteran's migraine condition is rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a duty to assist error, specifically failing to notify the Veteran of scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are currently rated at 60 percent and do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or within one year after separation from active service, and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that the conditions existed prior to service.,The Veteran's left-hand disability and right-hand disability do not meet the criteria for service connection as there is no medical evidence of a pre-existing condition.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability due to a prohibited concurrent appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.