Hearing loss Board decisions

The appeal as to service connection for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, and right and left ankle sprains is dismissed. The appeal as to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded.

The Board denied an initial compensable disability rating for the service-connected bilateral hearing loss and remanded several claims for service connection.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and a new VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for chronic URI, hearing loss, and an upper back/neck disorder. However, it granted the reopening of claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and mood disorder; a low back disorder; bilateral upper and lower extremity numbness; and a headache disorder. The remaining issues were remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The claim for plantar fasciitis is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since the date of service connection. The most recent VA examination found that the Veteran's hearing acuity was no worse than Level I in both ears, resulting in a 0 percent disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, as there was no evidence of a current disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, finding no evidence of worsening conditions or entitlement to a higher rating within the one-year look-back period.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus on a presumptive basis due to continuous symptoms since service separation. However, the evidence does not support service connection for bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted, while service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the current hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and a significant threshold shift during service.,The Veteran was also granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the current condition is related to in-service noise exposure and credible lay evidence of intermittent ringing in his ears.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, plantar fasciitis, right restless leg syndrome, left restless leg syndrome, and sleep apnea due to a lack of current disability. The appeals for these conditions are being remanded as additional medical opinions are needed to address direct service connection and any aggravation by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and requires an opinion on whether the Veteran's hearing loss is related to his military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claim for service connection for skin condition is remanded due to the need for a TERA examination.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as service connected, but his right ear hearing loss and bilateral hearing loss are denied.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance prior to December 15, 2021 was denied as there is no evidence showing he required regular aid and assistance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to inadequate medical opinion and need for a new VA audio examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a duty to assist error in obtaining the Veteran's personnel records. The claims are also intertwined as tinnitus may be secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.