Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for the service-connected ulcerative colitis.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss is denied due to the audiometric findings not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating.,Service connection for anxiety is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that could be related to current symptoms.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disorder were denied as there was no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.,For bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for back condition with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, nerve damage to right lower extremity, left upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right upper extremity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding their etiology. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, kidney disease, trigeminal neuralgia pain, an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), right lower peripheral neuropathy, left lower peripheral neuropathy, right peripheral vascular disease, left peripheral vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, heart condition, and hypertension are being remanded due to the Veteran missing his VA examinations.,The Board finds that the Veteran presented good cause for having missed his appointments and therefore, the claims must be remanded to afford the Veteran adequate examinations and medical opinions regarding these disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's right foot bunion and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected. The decision on bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, but his bilateral hearing loss remains in dispute due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Board has ordered remand for an addendum opinion.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss due to the absence of a current disability meeting VA's definition of impaired hearing. The right ear hearing loss claim is remanded for further development, including scheduling an audiological examination and providing an etiological opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during service and have been continuous since service separation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, right hand disability, and left hand disability due to a lack of current diagnoses and no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to duty-to-assist errors in obtaining a VA medical opinion.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Board has identified procedural due process errors and the case will be remanded to allow for additional evidence submission related to service connection claims.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric condition including PTSD, with generalized anxiety disorder with unspecified depressive disorder. Service connection was denied for bilateral eye condition and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the VA opinion is inadequate and remands the case for a new examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, including whether it began in service or is related to noise exposure during military service. The examiner must also opine on whether the Veteran's hearing loss is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's service connection claims for back impairment, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and heart impairment have been granted. The claim for psychiatric impairment other than PTSD is dismissed as part of the grant of service connection for PTSD. Service connection has also been granted for bilateral glaucoma due to in-service eye injury but not secondary to cataracts. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left knee disability, low back disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to procedural errors in previous decisions.