Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his current bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits due to unresolved issues regarding his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work. The case will be referred to the Director, Compensation Service, for consideration of whether a higher effective date is warranted.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to insufficient evidence provided, specifically a death certificate.,The Board also denied the appellant's claim for nonservice-connected VA survivor's pension benefits as her income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR).

The Veteran withdrew his appeal in its entirety prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for his linear scar, left leg and initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his condition.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's GERD has been granted an initial rating of 30 percent, effective October 22, 2021.,Effective December 31, 2020, the Veteran received service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Effective December 10, 2020, he also received service connection for GERD and right hip strain with limited extension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not present a disability picture indicating that he is unemployable. The Board finds the evidence persuasively weighs against his claim for a TDIU.

The Veteran's left knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, pruritus ani, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The left knee disability was granted a separate rating for painful extension from March 20, 2020, and instability from the same date. Pruritus ani was denied as not related to service or a service-connected condition. Bilateral hearing loss was also denied.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (avoidant personality disorder) was found not to be a compensable disability for VA purposes due to its nature as a personality disorder, and no other current psychiatric disorder was diagnosed in the record.

The Board granted readjudication of the previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral dry eye syndrome but denied service connection for acid reflux disorder, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions, and the evidence does not show a relationship to military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was granted service connection. The left ankle condition claim is dismissed due to procedural defects. Other claims for various conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not show that he has a disability level of hearing loss required for VA purposes.,The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation greater than 10 percent disabling for eosinophilic esophagitis is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for such a rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, DDD of the cervical spine, Barrett's esophagus, RUE palsy, and LUE palsy due to potential service connection based on military noise exposure and contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability was previously rated by the AOJ, but the rating decision used incorrect audiometric test results. The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the service-connected right ear hearing loss.

The Board has denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed right ear hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, left shoulder disability, left lower extremity disability, and right lower extremity disability as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's initial claim for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss and unspecified anxiety disorder was denied. The Board also remanded the claims of service connection for erectile dysfunction and bilateral flat feet.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of right ear hearing loss, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and allergic rhinitis have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board granted an effective date of June 7, 2018, for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).