Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded all service connection claims due to the need for additional VA and private treatment records, particularly from facilities in the Bronx, Puerto Rico, and Gainesville.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma. As a result, the claim is granted.

The Veteran's current right ear hearing loss was incurred during service and has continued to the present. The Board granted service connection for this condition, but did not assign a rating as it is currently rated at 10%.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions in the original decision. The Veteran was exposed to noise during service, but there is no objective evidence of permanent auditory damage on active duty from noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is incurred in service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection on all six issues due to the NOD not being timely filed.

The Board has granted effective dates of July 12, 2021 for the grant of service connection for kidney cancer, s/p nephroureterectomy, and residual scars, s/p left nephroureterectomy. The Veteran also received SMC based on housebound criteria.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and her claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits was granted in full, effective May 11, 2021. The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, acquired psychiatric disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus remain unresolved.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has dismissed the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of readjudication in the September 2019 rating decision. The appeal of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's National Guard service is considered, but an addendum opinion is needed from an appropriate clinician regarding the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeals for an effective date prior to December 27, 2022 and for a higher initial evaluation for obstructive sleep apnea have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection for a stomach disability.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, pes planus (left foot), and left forearm disability are denied. Service connection for sleep apnea remains in dispute.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue regarding a compensable initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the withdrawal request by the Veteran's authorized representative.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, strep throat or residuals thereof, left lower extremity shin splints, right lower extremity shin splints, and chronic fatigue syndrome.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, and will need an addendum opinion from the VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology, specifically whether they are related to service. A new VA opinion is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are denied. The AOJ is directed to obtain a VA medical examination addressing the nature and etiology of the claimed conditions, specifically plantar fasciitis in the left foot.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there was no prior claim filed before October 14, 2019.,New evidence has been received to support the service connection claims for squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil and adenocarcinoma with signet ring cells. These claims are now granted.