Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and benign paroxysmal position vertigo, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is rated at 0 percent, effective March 13, 2018. The Board has denied a compensable rating for this condition.,The Veteran's bilateral eye condition was remanded due to the need for an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his increased rating from January 10, 2023, is also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings at any time during the relevant period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment before January 6, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU due to inadequate discussion of extraschedular considerations and potential inappropriateness of current rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a disability rating for diabetes mellitus, type II, and a compensable disability rating for left ear sensorineural hearing loss due to incomplete information and need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance or housebound status, as he does not require personal assistance from others and is not substantially confined to his dwelling.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating during the appeal period, as his hearing acuity was at Level I in both ears.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error and another issue regarding the Veteran's service connection claim. The VA examiner will provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's right ear hearing loss had its clinical onset during service or is due to an event or incident of his period of active service, and whether it is clear and unmistakable that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss pre-existing disability was NOT aggravated (i.e., permanently worsened beyond the natural course of the disease) during service.

The Board has granted effective dates of September 8, 2016 for the awards of service connection and increased ratings for right ear hearing loss, tension headaches, and acquired psychiatric disability. The rating for the acquired psychiatric disability is set at 70 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of an increase in severity beyond the current noncompensable rating, and the maximum schedular evaluation (10%) is already assigned for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss, and there was no service connection established for most of the claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to a TDIU due to duty-to-assist errors. The VA examinations obtained prior to the May 2024 rating decision on appeal are inadequate, and new evaluations are needed.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss on a presumptive basis due to continuous symptoms since service separation, as the Veteran reported experiencing hearing loss during and after service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a duty to assist error. A new examination is needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, considering his lay statements about symptoms shortly after service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine DDD, tinnitus, eczema, and left-hand arthritis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 29, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, headache, and skin disorders due to outstanding treatment records.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to the absence of audiometric findings meeting VA disability criteria.,The Veteran's right hip syndrome (limitation of extension) and flexion do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as their respective ranges are within normal limits.,The Veteran's right hip syndrome does not warrant an initial rating in excess of 10 percent due to its current range of motion limitations.,PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Veteran's symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.