Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to active duty service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, but her tinnitus was incurred during active duty.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as service connection, while his right ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus are denied.,Service connection for the Veteran's bilateral tinnitus is established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's timely filing of a VA Form 9, Appeal to the Board, in January 2021 was not properly considered due to an error by the AOJ in not mailing the March 2020 SOC to the Veteran's representative. As a result, the appeal is granted and the case will proceed with issuance of an SSOC.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus first manifested during service and is presumed to have been incurred therein. The claims for hearing loss, frostbite (lower left and lower right), hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and sleep apnea are remanded due to a failure of the AOJ to obtain relevant records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and he is granted entitlement to a TDIU. The increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and right knee tendonitis are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, while his claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of hypoalbuminemia, and residuals of persistent recurrent upper respiratory infection (recurrent episodes of shortness of breath). The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for surgical scars of the left wrist is also denied.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been presented to warrant readjudication of the previously denied claims for service connection for scarring from multiple mole removal, tinnitus, and a bilateral foot disability.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that he did not meet the criteria for a current disability as defined by VA regulations. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether these conditions began during active service.

The Veteran's claim for SMC under sections 1114(o), (k), and (p) of the U.S. Code was denied as he does not meet the criteria for these provisions due to his hearing loss rating, which is at 80 percent, and lack of service-connected blindness or visual impairment.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was not granted a compensable rating.,For the period from March 23, 2017, to April 27, 2018, the Veteran received a maximum schedular rating for IBS under Diagnostic Code 7319. For the period since April 27, 2018, the Veteran's IBS has been manifested by moderate symptomatology with frequent episodes of bowel disturbance.,The Veteran's sinusitis did not meet criteria for an increased rating as it was not characterized by incapacitating episodes or a history of sinus surgery.,The calluses on the bilateral feet were not painful and collectively measured less than 144 sq. in., thus not meeting criteria for an increased rating.,Right and left knee disabilities have been manifested by findings of limitation of flexion resulting in additional functional loss, but did not meet criteria for a higher rating as they are already at the maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 5260.,The Veteran's right knee instability was granted an initial 30 percent rating and left knee instability was granted an initial 10 percent rating based on moderate recurrent lateral instability.,Radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities has been rated at 20 percent, consistent with moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.,The Veteran's TMJ disability is related to a service-connected disability and thus granted service connection.,Crohn's Disease was not found to be incurred or aggravated during service.,Respiratory disability and sleep apnea were not found to be incurred or aggravated during service.,Right and left ankle disabilities were not shown in service and are not otherwise related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss is related to his noise exposure during active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of adequate medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection claim is based on presumed exposure, but further examination is needed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connection due to in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability, muscle pain, chest and ribs condition, and headaches are remanded for further examination and opinion.,Resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor, her bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that new evidence received since the last rating decision warrants readjudication of the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder disabilities. The AOJ must now consider this new evidence in conjunction with the existing record to determine if service connection should be granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability as there is no current disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, GERD, and rhinitis, meet the schedular criteria for entitlement to individual unemployability.