Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70 percent rating, effective February 12, 2018. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

Effective dates of September 15, 2015 are granted for service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Migraine Headaches, Tinnitus, and Left Ear Hearing Loss.

The Veteran's TDIU is granted with an effective date of January 27, 2011. Special monthly compensation for the appeal period from May 29, 2014 to May 18, 2018 is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for service connection and SMC were dismissed as they did not meet the procedural requirements under the modernized review system (AMA).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The RO is instructed to provide the Veteran with notice of his right to a hearing and then readjudicate his claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 40 percent, which reflects the severity of his condition as determined by audiometric testing. The Board found no evidence to support a higher rating or staged ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The specific conditions at issue are an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, left knee disability, left hand disability, and liver disorder (claimed as liver transplant).

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for back injury was denied. The decision on the hearing loss claim is based on current evidence not meeting criteria for a higher evaluation, while the back injury claim is denied due to lack of current diagnosis or symptomatology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including kidney stones, tinnitus, high frequency bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral cataracts, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for the period of August 30, 2022, to January 24, 2023.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a generalized anxiety disorder is denied as it is considered part of his service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a 70 percent rating, but no higher. His bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, requiring a new one that addresses the Veteran's medical history regarding the onset of his bilateral hearing loss disability and provides an opinion on whether it is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection as it is related to in-service noise exposure. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates and increased rating for TDIU, DEA benefits, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete service records. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently conceded, but further investigation into his service history and a new VA examination are needed.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to August 27, 2018 and a higher rating for the service-connected bilateral hearing loss (BHL) from August 27, 2018 is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for PTSD and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, gastrointestinal condition (GERD), cervical condition, left shoulder condition, and right shoulder condition are all denied. The Veteran's claim for PTSD is granted.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's tinnitus as it manifested within one year of his separation from active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability.,Service connection was withdrawn for left elbow, lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, while his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) was granted.