Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis (also claimed as pes planus) has been withdrawn. The claims of service connection for migraines, depression, hearing loss, and allergic rhinitis are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a back disorder, and a psychiatric disorder due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no current disability of hearing loss as defined by VA standards.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records related to the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, hypertension associated with herbicide agent exposure, bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis, and vasectomy scar residuals have been granted. The remaining issues of service connection for hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, prostate disability, skin disabilities, right ankle disability, esophageal disability, hemorrhoids, and left eye disability are being remanded.,The Veteran's claims for recurrent lumbar spine disability (including degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis), recurrent right knee disability (including osteoarthritis), recurrent prostate disability (including benign prostate hyperplasia), recurrent skin disability (including tinea versicolor, tinea corporis, tinea cruris, and eczema), recurrent right ankle disability (including cellulitis), recurrent esophageal disability (GERD), hemorrhoids, and acquired left eye disability (including corneal abrasion and cataract) are being remanded.

The Veteran's current bilateral tinnitus and hearing loss disabilities are granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure. The left ankle condition is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the October 2020 VA examination, which did not include audiometric testing. The Board finds that an additional examination is necessary to determine the severity and manifestations of his hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for residuals of a lower back injury and head condition (presumed traumatic brain injury).,Service connection is granted for tinnitus due to direct evidence linking it to military noise exposure. Service connection is denied for residuals of a lower back injury as there was no in-service injury or disease. Service connection is denied for head condition (presumed TBI) as the Veteran's symptoms are not consistent with those arising from service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's active duty service and his current hearing disability, despite credible reports of noise exposure. The VA examiner found that the Veteran did not have a threshold shift during military service and concluded that it is unlikely that delayed effects from noise exposure occur later in life.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The issues are related to whether these conditions are related to her active duty training (ACDUTRA).

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

The Veteran's TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance claims were granted for the period from July 16, 2019 to April 22, 2020 due to his service-connected hearing loss and PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, as his disabilities do not significantly impair his ability to perform daily activities.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of high triglycerides, bilateral hearing loss, migraines, prostate cancer, leukemia, right knee disability, and pseudofolliculitis barbae. Service connection was granted for hypertension and chronic kidney disease on a secondary basis due to hypertension. The appeal for a sleep disorder (including insomnia) was denied as there is no evidence linking it to service or any service-connected condition. Service connection for left knee disability was also denied.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for consideration of an earlier effective date prior to May 19, 2018, on an extraschedular basis. The AOJ must refer the case to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence showing that his current condition began during or was aggravated by his military service.