Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board granted TDIU based on the combined rating of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for ischemic cardiomyopathy was reopened and granted based on evidence showing a current disability, in-service injury, and a nexus between the two.,Service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of current hearing loss meeting VA criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a final rating decision in August 2013, finding that he did not serve in Vietnam and thus could not establish exposure to herbicides. The Veteran argued CUE based on his receipt of the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), but the Board found no evidence supporting his claim as it was known at the time of the decision.

The Veteran's initial claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and left shoulder disability have been denied.,No compensable ratings were assigned for any of the conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and service connection was denied. The initial rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder remains at 70 percent, the rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and the initial rating for bilateral pes planus is denied. A separate 10 percent rating for left foot hallux valgus from February 10, 2020 was granted. The right foot scar's rating remains at 0 percent. Service connection requests for left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and low back disability were also not granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, but his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and a heart disability to include congestive heart failure have been granted. The rating assigned is 10 percent for hypertension on and prior to June 7, 2023.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his audiometric test results have not shown hearing loss at a level that meets the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding throat disability and right ankle disability. The appeal for service connection of right ear hearing loss was granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability. The RO is instructed to obtain a new VA opinion that addresses the Veteran's theory of delayed onset of hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to concerns about the accuracy of the July 2019 VA examination results for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to assess his current condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased (compensable) evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a current VA audiological examination and the availability of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss for VA purposes.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, with the Board finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be reconsidered with a new opinion considering all applicable military deployments and toxic exposure risk activities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to May 25, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for heart condition, low back condition, and bilateral hearing loss due to procedural errors in previous decisions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, left foot bone sprain, residuals of a left foot ganglion cyst removal, depressive disorder other than PTSD, low back disorder, sinusitis, radiating right lower extremity pain, sleep disorder (to include sleep apnea), and migraine headaches have all been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's heart disorder, including myocardial infarction and atrial fibrillation, is rated at 100% effective from May 7, 2021.,Service connection for hearing loss was denied as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of hearing loss.