Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to attend VA examinations. The Veteran provided good cause for missing the initial examinations, and he is being asked to undergo new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. Additional development is needed with addendum VA medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to inadequate consideration of medical treatise evidence in the July 2022 VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been granted. The appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations for determining the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, which is claimed as related to his military service. The Veteran was provided with a new VA examination.

The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss as it has been granted in full. The appeal regarding obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease was denied as there is no evidence of a formal or informal claim prior to July 3, 2013.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 10% rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied because it is not factually ascertainable that the disability increased in severity within one year prior to July 3, 2013.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of a formal or informal claim prior to June 17, 2005.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for TBI, lumbosacral strain and right knee condition, bilateral hearing loss disability, and PTSD evaluation. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected left ear hearing loss is denied. The claims of reopening service connection for cervical spine disability and right ear hearing loss, as well as the claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability (claimed as low back pain), right sciatic nerve pain, gastrointestinal disability (irritable bowel syndrome), migraine headaches, pseudofolliculitis barbae, obstructive sleep apnea, finger disability (right pinky finger dislocation), acquired psychiatric disability (depressive disorder), hair loss (alopecia), and skin rash are all denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a disability manifested by frequent urination or bladder incontinence and night sweats is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service-connected sinusitis is dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, but these claims are denied.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a cervical spine condition, but this claim is also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus for VA purposes, and thus service connection is denied.,Regarding right hip disorder and left hip disorder, the evidence does not establish a current disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability and has not had one at any time during the pendency of the claim or recent to the filing of the claim.,Service connection for carbon monoxide poisoning, traumatic brain injury (TBI), acquired facial fracture, rhinoplasty, allergic rhinitis, scars, plantar fasciitis, feet orthotics, stress fractures of bilateral shins, tibial tendonitis, bicipital tendonitis, right foot cellulitis, sebaceous cyst, yaws early skin disease, and benign stern neoplasm are all remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability for VA compensation purposes.,The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain and service connection for a left knee disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.,Further investigation into the Veteran's treatment records from 2005-2010 is needed, as well as a new VA examination for his lumbosacral strain and an addendum opinion regarding his left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claim for entitlement to service connection for a back disability.,Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss and chronic bronchitis.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, chronic rhinitis, high blood pressure, tinea pedis, folliculitis, restless leg syndrome of the left leg, and restless leg syndrome of the right leg have been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence for the Veteran's claims of right shoulder, left knee, left ankle, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities.

The Veteran's migraines are found to be aggravated by service, and she is granted service connection for them. A 10 percent rating for tinnitus is granted. The lumbosacral strain claim is remanded due to increased symptoms not addressed in the previous examination. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (to include PTSD) and hearing loss are also remanded as new evidence or clarification of medical opinions may be needed. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to unresolved issues with her service-connected conditions.

The Board has dismissed the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and valvular heart disease as they have been granted in a December 2023 rating decision. The case is remanded for further analysis on the claims of bifascicular block, tinnitus, and their relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess all of the Veteran's disabilities, including his substance abuse disorders and their impact on his ability to work. The examiner is asked to determine whether the Veteran's substance abuse disorders are due to willful misconduct or treatment for other conditions.