Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of a left knee disorder was granted. Service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus were denied, while the claims for asthma, seizure disorder, low back disorder, right knee disorder, and left shoulder disorder/right shoulder disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hearing loss and sinusitis have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn these appeals.

The Veteran's claim for a left ankle disability is denied.,The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea claims are reopened, but denied on the merits.,The Veteran's eye disability (bilateral) claim is reopened, but denied on the merits.,The Veteran's lung disability (bronchitis), colon disability (ulcerative colitis), erectile dysfunction and/or vasectomy, kidney stones, and hypertension claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss disability remains pending and not reopened. Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional eye disability due to VA treatment on August 10, 2015, is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI). The decision finds that the current left ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his TBI.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for a right testicular disability, tinnitus, and dental trauma to include TMJ. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, dyspepsia, eye disorder, headaches, left wrist condition, neck condition, right shoulder condition, and traumatic brain injury are remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for further examination regarding the acquired psychiatric disorder. The appellant's hearing loss claim is also remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is at least a reasonable doubt in favor of these conditions being related to his active duty service.

The appeal of the cervical strain claim is dismissed as a complete grant was made in March 2024.,Service connection for chronic sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, right elbow tendinitis, and left elbow tendinitis remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened and granted.,Service connection for Crohn's disease with ulcerative colitis was also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss, neurological disorder (claimed as a seizure disorder and epilepsy), and acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate VA medical opinions. Further examination is required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when taken together, prevent him from securing or following a 'substantially gainful' occupation given his prior vocational history and the impact of his service-connected right foot disabilities (i.e., pes planus, hallux valgus, and hallux rigidus), left foot disability(status post fracture with hallux valgus), back disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, right foot and back scars, and GERD, when taken together, have on obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful non-sedentary employment and sedentary employment, including in his past employment as a police officer.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The effective dates for his service connection awards for hypertension, gynecomastia, and a left shoulder burn scar were all set to September 23, 2015.

Service connection granted for right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right shoulder osteoarthritis.,Service connection denied for a left rotator cuff condition (claimed as shoulder/arm arthritis), vision loss, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral dry eyes with light sensitivity, tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, cervical spine degenerative disease, recurrent right wrist tendonitis, fractured base of the fifth metacarpal of the right hand, asthma with obstructive sleep apnea, and GERD have all been granted effective December 1, 2017.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, a right shoulder disability, left wrist disability, left hand disability (claimed as osteoarthritis and tendonitis), and a left knee disability were denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension, stomach disability (GERD), skin cancer, and right testicle cancer. These issues are being remanded due to incomplete development of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal of the claim for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss has been dismissed.,The claims for service connection for a left hip disability and right hip disability have been remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 40 percent prior to April 1, 2022 and granted a 50 percent rating from that date forward. The decision is based on the results of VA audiological examinations conducted in December 2017 and April 2022.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to new evidence received and other procedural issues. The claims regarding bilateral hearing loss, right forearm disability, left forearm disability, and left hand disability are all being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his auditory acuity did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.