Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, Bechet's Disease, and chronic respiratory conditions due to a lack of issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has remanded the cases due to the Veteran's failure to attend scheduled VA examinations for bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorders, including MDD with anxiety. The examinations were related to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of VA audiological examinations, despite the Veteran's military occupational specialty (MOS) indicating potential noise exposure. The case is being returned to allow the Veteran an opportunity to provide additional information and undergo a VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss as he does not have a current disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, ED, OSA, gastritis and GERD, and tension headaches have been granted.,Service connection has been established for these conditions based on the reopening of previously denied claims due to new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are denied as there is no persuasive evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on current examination reports.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the June 2017 and May 2023 VA audiological examinations did not reflect left ear hearing loss for VA rating purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's continuous symptoms since service are presumed due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his bilateral hearing loss and dizziness, including a determination on service connection for dizziness secondary to his hearing loss. The TDIU claim prior to August 21, 2020, is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of right knee arthritis due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to new evidence submitted.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was submitted and the Veteran did not waive AOJ review. The claims for service connection are being remanded to allow for consideration of this new evidence.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board granted a temporary increase to 20 percent from February 24, 2023, to November 14, 2023, and denied any higher ratings.

The Board has denied service connection for left wrist and left knee disabilities, but granted service connection for a back disability. The claims for left wrist and left knee disabilities are considered 'mixed' as some issues were granted (back) and others not (left wrist and left knee).,Service connection was established for the Veteran's back disability based on direct evidence of injury during service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and inner ear/sinus problems.,A VA medical opinion is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any inner ear and sinus problems, including chronic sinusitis and status post septoplasty residuals.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of this condition.,Service connection for depression is denied because there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or treatment related to the claimed disability.,The Veteran's claims for right hand and left knee disabilities are denied due to lack of diagnosed conditions.,Left hip disability claim is also denied as there is no current diagnosis.,New and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for spina bifida, thus the claim remains denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, right hip disability, and left hip disability due to insufficient evidence of a current disability. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service hazardous noise exposure.