Hearing loss Board decisions

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss, back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The neck condition, left upper extremity nerve condition, and right upper extremity nerve condition claims are remanded.

The Veteran withdrew all claims for service connection and higher ratings, including those for PTSD, osteoarthritis of the shoulder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, prostate disorder, and hypertension. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives and new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any complaints, treatment, or diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Post-service medical records also lack evidence of these conditions.,There is no medical evidence linking the Veteran's blurred vision to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to September 6, 2023, and a rating in excess of 30 percent since that date has been denied by the Board.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 28, 2022, and since that date remain denied as his disability does not warrant a higher evaluation based on the current VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and migraine headaches due to insufficient evidence on the merits of these claims. The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is reopened, but her new evidence does not establish a nexus between her current hearing loss disability and in-service noise exposure or tinnitus. For her migraine headache claim, the Board has ordered an addendum opinion regarding whether her headaches are related to service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,For the period prior to April 6, 2018, an initial compensable evaluation for asbestos induced pleural plaques was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disability was reopened and granted. The rating for hearing loss remains at 20 percent.,The Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound and total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a chronic perforation of the left tympanic membrane are granted. The Board also finds that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar calcaneal spurs, degenerative changes of the feet (claimed as flat feet and residuals of broken toes), degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea are found to have begun during service. The appeal is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an updated examination of the service-connected bilateral hearing loss condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus on a presumptive basis, but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's OSA is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, with obesity as an intermediate step. The VA needs to obtain a new opinion from a qualified sleep specialist addressing both proximate causation and aggravation by hypertension and PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to incomplete records from January 2011.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining new VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and low back disability.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 15, 2015 was denied. From January 15, 2015 to December 9, 2015, he received a 30 percent evaluation.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including a new VA examination for his psychiatric disorder and knee and spine disabilities.