Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, kidney disease, heart disease, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate efforts in scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of bilateral hearing loss, service connection for multiple joint pain, right leg fungus, and left leg fungus have all been denied. The Board found that the current ratings assigned were appropriate.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to his service-connected conditions, including lower right limb amputation, shrapnel injuries, left knee disability, and hearing loss. The AOJ is instructed to obtain information regarding whether the Veteran's employment environment is protected.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied because he was not rendered unemployable due to only one service-connected disability, but rather multiple disabilities including his neck and back pain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection was granted for both conditions.,For allergic rhinitis, a noncompensable rating was initially assigned in September 2014. The Veteran requested an increased rating, which resulted in a 10 percent rating effective March 31, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for eczema of the left hand was denied as he failed to attend a necessary VA examination without good cause.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss was granted due to in-service noise exposure, and the Veteran's current diagnosis meets VA criteria for hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence. The issues include left elbow and wrist disabilities, sleep disorder (OSA), bilateral hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, and hepatitis C.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the remaining issues due to lack of VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted. The Board found that the evidence, including his statements and VA examination results, raised a reasonable possibility of establishing a current disability. Service connection was also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (adjustment disorder, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder).

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral vision impairment, chronic chest pain, and anal fissures have all been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection cannot be granted because the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a qualifying chronic disability or any other disability for VA benefits purposes.

The Veteran's residuals of right wrist ganglion cyst were granted service connection as it was caused by an in-service right wrist ganglion cyst.,Service connection for a right ankle disability was denied due to the periodic flare ups not being causally related to active duty service.,Service connection for hemorrhoids was denied as there is no current evidence of a disability or impairment associated with them.,The left elbow condition was denied as it did not onset during his active duty service and there were no symptoms reported after separation.,Bilateral hearing loss was denied due to the absence of a current diagnosis meeting VA criteria for a disability.,Service connection for a scar from left inguinal hernia repair was denied as there is no evidence of such a condition.,Right foot condition, including plantar fasciitis, was remanded as further examination and opinion are needed.,Cervical spine condition and high blood pressure were also remanded due to the need for additional medical evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for left leg shin splints, right leg shin splints, and lumbosacral strain has been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.,The Veteran's appeal for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and an acquired psychiatric disorder has also been remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to notification issues regarding a VA examination for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current address needs to be confirmed and he will need another VA examination to determine his current severity of service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal of his claims for bilateral hearing loss, fatigue (claimed as chronic fatigue syndrome), and OSA has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for fatigue and OSA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service in June 1996 is unclear and needs to be verified. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to May 28, 2021 was denied. The Board found that the audiometric results showed a level of hearing loss compatible with a noncompensable rating.,For the period after May 28, 2021, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not have its onset during his active-duty service and is not related to noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss due to incomplete medical opinions and new arguments presented by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, low back disorder, depression, knee disorders, foot disorders, and ankle disorders have been dismissed as the Veteran opted into the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) by submitting a VA Form 10182 within 60 days of receiving a Supplemental Statement of the Case.