Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not rated higher than the current non-compensable rating.,The Veteran does not have a diagnosed condition of headaches that causes impairment in earning capacity.,Service connection for OSA, secondary to service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis and obesity as an intermediate step, is granted.,Service connection for GERD is denied.,Service connection for sinusitis is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection as it began in service and has continued since. However, his bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not show that it was caused by noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 40 percent from January 16, 2015 to July 25, 2015. The rating is granted as the evidence shows a worsening of his hearing impairment during this period.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 12, 2021 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim was submitted on a VA Form 21-526EZ in July 2021 and within one year he submitted a complete application on the September 2021 VA Form 20-0995.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue will be reviewed again with a new examination.

The proposed reduction of the rating for bilateral hearing loss from 30% to zero percent is dismissed.,Service connection for a dental disability for compensation purposes is denied.,An initial 30% rating for BPPV is granted.,Two issues (IBS with diarrhea and skin disorder of the face) are remanded due to duty to assist error.,The appeal of service connection for IBS with diarrhea and a skin disorder of the face is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU rating. The Board finds there is not sufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that the Veteran is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities and that TDIU benefits are not warranted because the Veteran is not unable to obtain and sustain financially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active-duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss was granted in June 2021. The appeal is dismissed as the issue has been resolved.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, while he was granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for hearing loss is being remanded due to the lack of evidence showing an increase in severity prior to February 6, 2023.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches is being remanded as there was no indication of intent to file such a claim before January 12, 2018.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic disability during or within presumptive periods after service. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran did not have noise-induced hearing loss while in service and that delayed onset hearing loss is unlikely.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been denied. The decision on the PTSD claim is pending as it remains on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the VA examination opinion. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to service exposure to hazardous noise.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle condition and left ear hearing loss, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to the current conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent disabling for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for such a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus were denied in an August 2004 rating decision. The Board found that the Veteran did not appeal this decision, making it final. In March 2021, the Veteran submitted a supplemental claim which was granted in March and May 2021. The Board determined that the effective date could only be set to the date of the supplemental claim due to the lack of an appeal from the August 2004 decision.

Service connection for hypertension is granted from August 10, 2022. Service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus (secondary to hearing loss) are granted. Service connection for skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) is granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right shoulder disability is dismissed as the issue was part of an earlier legacy appeal.,The Veteran's appeal for SMC based on aid and attendance or housebound is dismissed because it has already been granted for the current appeal period.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his bilateral foot disability is denied as he is already in receipt of the maximum schedular rating.,The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to September 7, 2022 for the grant of a 70 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of evidence showing worsening during the year prior to his claim.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no basis for an earlier effective date.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete evidence and issues related to the appellant's discharge from service. The claims will be reconsidered with additional development.