Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities.,Service connection was established for these conditions based on a direct relationship to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), RLE peripheral neuropathy, LLE peripheral neuropathy, RUE peripheral neuropathy, and LUE peripheral neuropathy due to new and relevant evidence having been received.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left hands, and sciatica/neuralgia in both lower extremities are granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus was dismissed as she did not file a notice of disagreement (NOD).,Service connection has been granted for GERD and esophageal hernia, with the Board finding that the evidence supports a nexus between these conditions and her military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, benign prostatic hyperplasia/hypertrophy, and chronic dermatitis to include tinea versicolor were denied. The Veteran was previously awarded a noncompensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss prior to January 11, 2021, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter. For benign prostatic hyperplasia/hypertrophy, the Veteran received a 40 percent evaluation from July 9, 2009, based on awakening to void five or more times per night. For chronic dermatitis (tinea versicolor), he was awarded a noncompensable rating prior to March 18, 2010, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter.

The Board has granted service connection for a right foot scar, claimed as cellulitis. The other claims of service connection are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss for accrued benefits purposes because the Veteran's hearing acuity in his left ear did not meet the auditory threshold required for VA disability compensation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that there is no current disability meeting VA standards.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable prior to June 3, 2019 and at a 10 percent rating thereafter. The Board found the evidence did not support an increased rating for this condition.,Service connection for right shoulder degenerative arthritis, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, low back disability, cervical spine disability, right foot disability, left foot disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right knee disability, left knee condition, right hip disability, and left hip disability is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left wrist condition, and right knee disability due to incomplete records and the need for new evaluations.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, hair loss (male pattern baldness), sleep apnea, scar, cyst, and erectile dysfunction have all been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or service connection has not been established.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development related to his claims of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and an eye disorder.,Specifically, the Veteran needs a VA examination closer to his residence to address his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Additionally, his claim for service connection for presbyopia with photophobia is remanded as no medical opinion has addressed whether he currently suffers from blindness in both eyes.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss, right knee contusion, ingrown toenails (bilateral great toe), and stomach disorder (hemorrhoids).,Left knee disorder remains denied due to lack of evidence linking current condition to in-service injury.

The Board denied service connection and initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury residuals, and facial scarring due to the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations.

The Veteran's current headache disability was first manifest during active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The claims for increased ratings of lumbar strain, left ear hearing loss, left hip flexion, right hip flexion, limited adduction and rotation of the left hip before February 20, 2020, rating in excess of 10 percent for limitation of adduction and rotation of the left hip since February 20, 2020, compensable ratings for right hip flexion and limited adduction and rotation of the right hip before February 20, 2020, and service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to comply with previous remand directives.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, effective from March 17, 2016, until September 6, 2022. Prior to this date, the claim was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a VA hearing loss and tinnitus examination. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is being evaluated to determine if it was caused by military noise, including an IED explosion in 2008.