Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 80% since April 25, 2023. The Board has found that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this period and has remanded to obtain additional VA audiology records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected TBI and related conditions due to inadequate examination reports. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to January 31, 2020.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, right knee condition, left knee, lower back, and left hand residuals of broken pinky, pain, and limited motion. The issues were remanded for additional development.

The reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for bilateral hearing loss from 60 percent to noncompensable effective September 1, 2013, was proper as there was actual improvement in his condition and it reflects an improvement in his ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of CUE in prior decisions regarding his service-connected hearing loss, tinnitus, right eye disability, anxiety disorder, thoracolumbar spine disability, hemorrhoids, and left thumb disability should be remanded for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to October 23, 2008 due to his service-connected disabilities not preventing him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's lumbar disability and service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, and hearing loss have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was reopened due to new and material evidence, but it remains remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome and bilateral hearing loss disabilities. The claims are being remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to January 28, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and heart valve replacement is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The claim for hearing loss will be reopened, while the claim for heart valve replacement requires further examination to determine if it is related to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and there are no exceptional circumstances warranting extraschedular consideration.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for gout and onychocryptosis of the left great toe are reopened, but service connection remains denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting VA compensation criteria.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and PTSD) is denied because the Veteran does not have a diagnosed psychiatric condition.,Service connection for sleep disturbances (including sleep apnea) is denied due to attribution of symptoms to obstructive sleep apnea, which was not incurred in or caused by service.,Service connection for painful joints, other than gout and a neck disability, is denied as the Veteran has not identified specific joints for which he seeks service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the appeal period for this issue has been REMANDED.,The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are currently rated at 30% from February 1, 2016 to July 27, 2019. The appeal period for this issue is also REMANDED.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right lower extremity amputation as the evidence did not meet the criteria for these conditions.,Service connection was also denied for treatment purposes only for PTSD under 38 U.S.C. § 1702.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to October 22, 2018 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and a painful scar of the midline abdomen have been denied as there is no indication that the Veteran had filed an application for these conditions before this date.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU has been granted effective from August 10, 2022.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for blood clots can be decided. The Veteran's appeal will be remanded to allow the AOJ to consider all evidence added since the last decision.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the bilateral hearing loss claim due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues. The appeals are not about service connection, but rather the severity of his existing conditions.