Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, but has remanded for further examination regarding his psychiatric disability.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and a left ear hearing loss disability. Service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Meniere's syndrome and vertigo were granted with effective dates of May 11, 2010. A 100% evaluation was assigned for Meniere's syndrome with vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss from that date. Separate evaluations for vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss were discontinued.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to unclear audiometric results from 1964 and the need for a new opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss per VA standards.,The restoration of the 20 percent rating for herniated lumbar disc L5-S1 and compression fracture T12 with degenerative arthritis from May 7, 2019, to the present was granted.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for perforated eardrum residuals and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to procedural errors in the rating decision process.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and right ankle disability have been remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that his current level of hearing acuity does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, with the latter being secondary to the former. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and his current symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in the February 2021 VA examination report, which contains conflicting findings regarding the Veteran's right ankle disability. A new VA examination is required.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have led to the need for regular aid and attendance, warranting SMC based on the need for aid and attendance. The issue of SMC at the housebound rate is dismissed as it is a lesser benefit than SMC based on aid and attendance.

The appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is dismissed due to the untimeliness of the appellant's VA Form 10182.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active military service, including noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and headaches (claimed as cephalgia).

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed because the Higher-Level Review request was received prior to filing the VA Form 10182, and the Veteran did not withdraw this request.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD was denied as VA received a complete Supplemental Claim on April 23, 2019, which is considered the date of claim.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (sciatic nerve), and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy have been granted effective December 21, 2022. The RO also continued the evaluations for his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision is based on the Veteran's reports of in-service low back pain and exposure to noise during military service, but no current hearing loss disability was found.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer) were both denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting either claim.