Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability for the period from November 20, 2013, to November 7, 2020. The claim of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected scoliosis is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connection is established due to in-service noise exposure.,Prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type 2, and decreased vision in the left eye are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, right knee disability, and right knee scar have been granted service connection. The TDIU issue is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking his current hearing loss to his military service. The issue of service connection for a neurocognitive condition, including memory loss from heat stroke, is remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding its onset and relationship to service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left glenohumeral joint arthritis, but has remanded the issue of service connection for Crohn's disease due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board has granted total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as zero percent since October 18, 2010. The Board has remanded the issue for further development and evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected hernia scar is not rated as compensable, but his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been established based on in-service noise exposure. Service connection for tinnitus was denied due to the examiner's finding that it was less likely than not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss was aggravated by service, and therefore grants service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate addendum medical opinions and a need for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service due to noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. For PTSD, the initial rating in excess of 30 percent prior to March 7, 2017, and an initial 50 percent rating from March 7, 2017 to June 24, 2018 were granted; however, a higher initial 70 percent rating was granted starting July 24, 2018.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from December 9, 2011 due to his service-connected disabilities. The effective date for this TDIU determination is set at July 17, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but denied service connection for low back disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted service connection. The left ankle disability, hypertension, bilateral foot disability, respiratory disorder, and bilateral eye disorder claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for a right hand disability, bilateral ankle disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings on an extraschedular basis or under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss in the left ear is granted with a rating of 40 percent effective December 23, 2022. Prior to that date, he was denied an initial compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disability and increased rating claims for right rotator cuff repair with chronic tendinitis, right knee patellofemoral pain, and left knee patellofemoral degenerative joint disease due to deficiencies in the examination reports.

The appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 12, 2010 and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter is dismissed. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective from October 31, 2008.