Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for an assessment of his employability in light of service-connected disabilities prior to March 18, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of such disability.,The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, neck disorder, and rheumatoid arthritis are all denied due to the lack of a current diagnosis.

Your appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as you have withdrawn the appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss due to the absence of a current disability. The claims for chronic left knee pain, chronic right knee pain, left foot plantar fasciitis, and hypertension are remanded as there is insufficient medical evidence addressing their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history, leading to the grant of a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability was received on June 15, 2023. The Board found that the increase in disability did not occur within a year prior to this date and thus denied the request for an earlier effective date.

The Board has identified a pre-decisional duty to assist error and has remanded the claims for an earlier effective date for tinnitus and hearing loss due to missing intent to file forms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history, leading to the grant of a TDIU for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for bilateral hearing loss, migraines/headaches, neck/cervical pain, sleep apnea, vertigo, and urethritis. The remaining issues of service connection are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since December 2, 2008. The Board granted TDIU based on the evidence showing his disabilities prevent him from participating in any substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work experience.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 2, 2017 for the grant of TDIU and DEA benefits was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a TDIU from January 25, 2010, due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. The VA Regional Office should have developed whether the Veteran experienced a disease or injury in relation to his disabilities during any period of active duty, inactive duty training (IDT), or reserve service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his condition began during service or is related to an in-service injury.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating. The Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating based on the current evidence of record.

The Veteran's TDIU and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate are granted effective September 2, 2011. Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance is established from September 2, 2011 to March 23, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to a duplicate docket number.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of an adequate VA examination prior to the rating decision. The AOJ must provide a new VA examination to determine if the disabilities had their onset during ACDUTRA or are related to service.

The appeal of the denial of right ear hearing loss is dismissed. The claim for traumatic arthritis of the right ankle is remanded and readjudicated.

Service connection granted for tinnitus, but denied for bilateral hearing loss, back disability, left lower and right lower extremity sciatica, left upper and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension.,Hearing loss was not shown during service or within one year post-service. Sciatica and peripheral neuropathy were not diagnosed in service or post-service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and back condition were denied. However, the Veteran was granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and MDD.