Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection for hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection: bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The reasons for remand include inadequate opinions in the July 2016 VA examination regarding the cause of the Veteran's hearing loss and insufficient evidence addressing his reported noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is denied as the form 21-8940 was not returned by the Veteran within one year of being requested.

The claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's PTSD, right ankle condition, bilateral hearing loss, left ankle condition (secondary to a right ankle condition), and sleep-related condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, leading to the grant of SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Board dismissed the appeal for bilateral hearing loss and left ankle strain. Service connection was granted for hemorrhoids as secondary to service-connected hypothyroidism.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all granted as service-connected due to continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder is granted as service connected. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to lack of current evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, OSA, and hypertension are not granted. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from following a substantially gainful occupation for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify from July 12, 2013 to May 3, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (DM) is remanded due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents. The TDIU claim is also remanded as incomplete employment history was provided.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain VA treatment records since April 2021 and determine if a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to February 11, 2022 is warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastroenteritis and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and evaluation due to inadequacies in previous examinations and inconsistencies in representation.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of low back disability, bilateral knee condition, bilateral hip condition, acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been withdrawn. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional evidence and provide a VA examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection need further development due to missing VA treatment records. The case is being sent back to obtain these records.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus and entitlement to TDIU prior to March 8, 2022 due to insufficient evidence regarding the presence of current disabilities and their relationship to service.

The appeals for increased ratings for PTSD, tinnitus, left knee tendonitis/tendinosis, and left ankle sprain residuals are dismissed. The appeals regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss, TBI with associated headaches and sleep apnea, lumbosacral strain, right knee tendonitis (limitation of extension), and right knee tendonitis (limitation of flexion) are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder has been granted.,Service connection was also established for tinnitus with an effective date of June 20, 2016.