Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no current disability meeting VA requirements and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between her present condition and military noise exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims of left plantar fasciitis, right plantar fasciitis, left ankle tendinitis, right ankle tendinitis, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety and PTSD), and left hip strain are all remanded due to pre-decisional errors in obtaining adequate VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an updated VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and his service, as well as whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is related to his military service, including noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis is rated at 30 percent, the maximum rating available under DC 5276.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as his right ear corresponds to Level I and left ear to Level V on the VA audiometric tables. The highest rating available is zero percent.,The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia with arthritis is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under DC 5260 for flexion limited to 115 degrees and extension limited to 115 degrees without ankylosis or instability.,The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia with arthritis is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under DC 5260 for flexion limited to 115 degrees.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the claim of bilateral hearing loss due to potential issues with the evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus, hearing loss, and thyroid enlargement have been denied ratings in excess of the current 10 percent. The claim for service connection for necrotizing fasciitis of bilateral feet and legs has also been denied.,Service connection was not established for any of the conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to military service.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss, as it is related to noise exposure during active duty and may be secondary to service-connected right ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus. The case will require another VA medical opinion to address the etiology of the current left ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus as there was insufficient medical evidence to determine if he had current disabilities, and an in-person examination is needed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as the evidence does not support a compensable evaluation.,Ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer claims are remanded due to insufficient verification of exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The matter is now pending for a new opinion.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service connected, with the Board resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for a compensable rating for tinea unguium (onychomycosis) of the bilateral big toenails and bilateral fifth toenails, service connection for left ruptured ear drum scar tissue, and service connection for left ear hearing loss due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's claims will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus and service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found no legal basis to grant a higher schedular rating for tinnitus, as the maximum available rating is already assigned. For bilateral hearing loss, the evidence did not establish in-service onset or continuity of symptomatology sufficient to meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his in-service noise exposure. The decision is based on medical opinions provided by a VA physician (Dr. N.V.) who concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss is service-connected due to prolonged exposure to high-intensity noises during service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his exposure to acoustic trauma during active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is etiologically linked to his active-duty service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting either condition.

The Veteran's initial claim for a left ear hearing loss disability was denied as there is no evidence of hearing loss that meets VA criteria for a disability. The right ear hearing loss disability claim was also denied due to lack of service-connected hearing loss in the right ear.,Service connection for a dental disability was not granted because the Veteran did not have any documented trauma or disease during service, and his current disabilities are not compensable under VA regulations.

The reduction of a 10 percent rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was improper, and the rating is restored.,Entitlement to an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD is denied.