Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2 and related diabetic neuropathy have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, consistent with his education and occupational experience. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the physical limitations caused by these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of adequate medical opinion in the January 2022 rating decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, BPPV, athlete's foot, IBS, and sinusitis. The claim for a compensable rating for ED was also denied.,No new evidence or changes in regulations were considered in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for post traumatic Meniere's disease with associated residuals is granted, effective August 13, 2013. The claim for a rating greater than 30 percent prior to March 9, 2021, for Meniere's disease with associated residuals is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left thigh lipoma, left ear hearing loss, and right foot plantar fasciitis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not reach a level of equipoise in favor of granting any of these claims.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted service connection for tinnitus. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and his current symptoms.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with an average hearing threshold of 33.75 decibels in both ears.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids were not rated higher than a compensable rating.,Tinnitus was evaluated at the maximum schedular rating available for that disorder.,Bilateral hearing loss was rated at 30 percent effective October 18, 2019.,Cervical spine disability was rated at 50 percent as of October 18, 2019.,Tension headaches were rated at 50 percent as of October 18, 2019.,Lumbar spine disability was not rated higher than 20 percent prior to February 7, 2020.,RUE radiculopathy and LUE radiculopathy were both rated at 20 percent.,Residual lumbar spine scar did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is denied, while his claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and has remanded the claims of left ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of medical evidence establishing current disability during or recent to the pendency of the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and therefore service connection is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to hazardous noise exposure during his military service or his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral plantar fasciitis due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities or a relationship to service.,Service connection was also denied for COPD and emphysema as there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an unspecified sleep disorder was granted, while his claim for a bilateral hearing loss disability was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for PFB was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for such.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence showing impairment recognized as a disability for VA compensation purposes.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted, with the evidence being in approximate balance regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were granted effective July 10, 2020. The Board found that the earlier effective date of July 10, 2019 was warranted due to a correction in his military records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma, increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss disability and pansinusitis (sinus disability), and found that his sinus disability is rated appropriately at 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination in December 2021. The Veteran is asked to provide a new VA examination to determine if her hearing loss and/or tinnitus had its origin in service.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between his current hearing loss and a perforated ear drum diagnosed during service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.