Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that an additional VA medical opinion is needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, which may be related to his military service including noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of obstructive sleep apnea, disorder manifested by facial numbness, dysthymic disorder with panic disorder, bilateral hearing loss, hand tremors, lumbar spine disability, right hand disability, and right ankle disability have been dismissed due to withdrawal. Service connection has been granted for dysthymic disorder with panic disorder.

The Board has found errors in obtaining the Veteran's complete service personnel records and has determined that remand is necessary to correct these pre-decisional errors.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of entitlement to service connection for valvular heart disease due to its withdrawal by the Veteran. The claims of service connection for a respiratory disability, pes planus, and left ear hearing loss are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for BPPV has been remanded due to the inadequacy of the March 2020 VA examination.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, chronic otitis media, and sinusitis are inextricably intertwined with the BPPV claim and have also been remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not show a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted for the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right shoulder disability, right bicep tendon adhesion, and back disability. These claims are being remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has denied an initial compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for right ear hearing loss due to inadequate rationale in the VA examiner's opinion.

The Board has granted the readjudication of claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, and vertigo. The claims are being remanded due to new evidence received since the August 2020 rating decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under VA guidelines. The Board has determined that a higher evaluation is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal for higher disability ratings for left ear hearing loss and non-specific headaches was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 8100 (migraines) or Diagnostic Code 6100 (bilateral hearing loss).

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for left ear hearing loss. The remaining issues of service connection have been remanded.

The Veteran's GERD is granted an initial 30 percent rating, while the other service connection claims are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection regarding hearing loss was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for various disabilities, including left foot disability, right foot disability, hearing disability (including as tinnitus and hearing loss), PFB, right eye disability, left arm disability, and hypertension. The claims are based on direct service connection.

The Board has found that the VA did not obtain all necessary medical records related to the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, and thus remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD with major depression) are granted. The Board finds new and relevant evidence sufficient to readjudicate these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, but the Board grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are due to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbosacral strain (back disability) and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss. The back disability was found to be aggravated during active duty training, while the hearing loss claims were not supported by evidence showing it had onset or progression in service.