Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a gastrointestinal disorder due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for tinnitus is denied as he was already in receipt of the earliest available effective date.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began during active service and is related to military noise exposure. However, it denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing its onset within one year of separation from service or being otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and Meniere's disease due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran's in-service noise exposure is conceded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating, as his current level of hearing acuity is at worst Level II in both ears. For left cubital tunnel syndrome and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, the claims are remanded due to insufficient development or examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant as they do not result in loss of use of extremities, blindness in both eyes, full thickness or subdermal burns, or an inhalation injury.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete examinations and a need for additional medical opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, with particular emphasis on environmental exposures during his Southwest Asia deployment.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss on a direct basis, as the Veteran's current condition is presumed to have been incurred in service due to continuous symptoms since separation.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted as the Veteran's MOS of aircraft maintenance indicates exposure to noise during service.,Service connection for asthma is granted as the onset was during service and supported by VA examination findings. The examiner noted no evidence of respiratory condition or shortness of breath while in service.,Service connection for anemia is denied due to lack of current diagnosis, with no competent evidence linking it to military service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there are no audiometric findings meeting the criteria for a disability. The Veteran's hearing was found normal during VA examination.,Service connection for left eye disability (retinal hemorrhage, choroidal nevi, bilateral vitreous floaters) is granted due to presumed exposure under PACT Act.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss from January 2, 2020 is denied. The Board also granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to his military service and did not manifest within a presumptive period.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder (MDD, anxiety, PTSD) and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. The Board finds the evidence at least in approximate balance regarding whether these conditions began during or were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee and left ear hearing loss were denied. The maximum schedular rating of 20% was assigned for both knees, and the noncompensable rating (0%) was maintained for his left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claims for injury to left eye, back pain (upper and lower), bilateral foot pain, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied.,Specifically, the Board found that there is no credible evidence linking any of these conditions to service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated at 0 percent, and the Board has denied an increased rating.,The Veteran's varicocele (hydrocele) is currently rated at 0 percent. The AOJ failed to obtain relevant private medical records related to this condition prior to issuing its November 2020 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as she does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss for VA purposes.,The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have begun in service and has persisted, with the Board finding that reasonable doubt must be resolved in her favor.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed as his claim for service connection for a respiratory disability has been granted. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral flat feet, tinnitus, and skin rash are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals for higher ratings in the cases of migraine headaches, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss for further examination and opinion due to a lack of sufficient detail in the previous VA examination report.

The Veteran's service connection claims for myasthenia gravis, hearing loss in the left ear, and tinnitus are granted. The claim for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right thumb disability were evaluated, but his claims for tinea pedis, residuals of gonorrhea, and herpes simplex remain pending as the appeal is remanded.