Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for a recurrent right wrist disability, increased ratings for right ganglion cyst excision scar residuals, and ulcerative colitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is causally connected to active service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The denial of service connection for left ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, right ankle disability, left hand disability, and neck disability remains unchanged. The Board has remanded the issues regarding bilateral foot disability and right ankle disability due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board found that the calculation of the combined disability rating from November 5, 2010 to January 26, 2022 was correct at 40 percent. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error in the AOJ's reliance on the November 2021 VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's left ear hearing loss. The case is being remanded for an addendum opinion addressing whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss had its onset during or is otherwise related to service, including his conceded in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral tinnitus, and right ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, but his bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension is granted due to the PACT Act. Claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected panic disorder without agoraphobia alone prevents him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and he is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective April 27, 2009. Additionally, the Veteran has additional service-connected disabilities independently rated at 60 percent or more, qualifying him for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied, while her claim for left ear hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the most recent VA examination showing no worse than Level I in both ears.

Your appeal for a higher rating for your bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed because the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits as he did not have an employment handicap and his service-connected disabilities did not substantially contribute to his vocational impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and a compensable rating for his right ear hearing loss, heart condition, hypertension, and anemia are remanded due to incomplete evidence. The VA will obtain any outstanding treatment records and schedule the Veteran for VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to duty-to-assist errors and inadequate opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 0 percent, and the appeal for a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's BPPV is currently rated at 10 percent, and the appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were inadequate, as they did not address the etiology of the Veteran's conditions. The Board is therefore remanding these claims to obtain addendum opinions from qualified examiners.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right knee disorder is dismissed.,Service connection for a left foot disorder, claimed as arthritis and joint pain, is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it first manifested in service and has continued since.,The Veteran's migraine headaches and hearing loss were both found not to be secondary to her service-connected disabilities.