Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran was exposed to acoustic trauma during active service and has experienced symptoms of bilateral hearing loss continuously since separation from service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for hearing loss, hypertension, and scarring from surgery due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's exposure basis is not specified.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and right rotator cuff tendonitis due to duty-to-assist errors in prior decisions. The Veteran's service connection claims are being reviewed again with new medical opinions provided.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran did not report for a scheduled VA examination and there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for hearing loss disability under VA regulations, and therefore service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's disability rating for bilateral hearing loss has been restored to 20 percent effective August 24, 2023. The reduction from 20% to noncompensable was not proper due to procedural issues and the Board found that his hearing loss did not improve enough to warrant such a reduction.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and pseudofolliculitis barbae as there is no persuasive evidence that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss as there is no competent evidence of current diagnoses in the record.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as secondary to his service-connected hearing loss. The initial compensable disability ratings for right ear hearing loss, PFB, and tinea pedis are denied.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to PTSD. Left ear sensorineural hearing loss is granted, while right ear sensorineural hearing loss and headaches are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, and will consider each issue individually.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his current condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete STR records and an inadequate medical opinion. The claims will be reconsidered with complete STR and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's headaches are granted as secondary to her service-connected multiple sclerosis.,Her depression appeal is dismissed due to it being a symptom of her already service-connected neurocognitive disorder.,Tinnitus was denied as there is no current diagnosis and the Veteran did not report any during active duty.,Bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of qualifying hearing loss for VA purposes.,High blood pressure, spinal fluid leak, left wrist pain, right wrist pain, back pain, and neck pain were all denied due to lack of a nexus to service.,Left shoulder pain and right shoulder pain were also denied without a clear link to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the Board found that a remand is required to address service connection for dermatophytosis due to duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hernia surgery abdomen scar, residuals of hernia repair surgery (other than scar), hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, nerve disability of the lower extremities (to include numbness), chronic headache disability, and gastrointestinal disability to include a functional gastrointestinal disorder are all granted. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not show that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss met the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, sleep apnea, traumatic brain injury, vertigo, low back disability, left ankle and right ankle disabilities, left arm and right arm disabilities, left elbow and right elbow disabilities, left foot and right foot disabilities, left hand little finger, right hand little finger, left hand index finger, right hand index finger, left hand long finger, right hand long finger, left hand ring finger, right hand ring finger, left hand thumb, right hand thumb, left knee, right knee, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left upper extremity cold exposure, right upper extremity cold exposure, left wrist disability, and right wrist disability have also been remanded.