Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board found no evidence to warrant a higher rating based on the current evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and sleep apnea, have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment since September 30, 2020. As of that date, the Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and insomnia), headaches, traumatic brain injury, obstructive sleep apnea, knee disorders, foot disorders, ankle disorders, elbow disorders, shoulder disorders, hip disorders, hand disorders, wrist disorders, lumbar spine disorders, shin disorders, cold injury disorders, upper extremity cold injury disorders. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosis for these conditions during service or within one year of discharge and thus could not establish service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during his active duty service, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not rated as compensable, with an average puretone threshold of 61.25 decibels and a word recognition score of 98 percent.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss has been granted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. The denial of hearing loss is due to the lack of a current disability meeting VA criteria, while tinnitus was found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities, including tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 27, 2022. As of that date, his combined disability rating reached 100 percent due to additional service-connected conditions, making the TDIU issue moot.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's combat service is considered, but no relationship between current disabilities and military service could be established.

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. An initial 10 percent evaluation, but no higher, for hypertension is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the claims of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and acid reflux due to a lack of evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 18, 2006 for the grant of entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual employability (TDIU) is granted. The Board also found that referral for extra-schedular consideration was warranted due to unemployability by reason of service-connected disabilities prior to September 18, 2006.

The Board has remanded four issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities due to inadequate examination in the November 2019 rating decision. The issues are: entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, entitlement to a compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss, entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for paralysis of the 10th cranial nerve, and entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left shoulder paresis of the 11th cranial nerve. The remand is due to the inadequate examination that did not consider all associated symptoms.

The Board has remanded the issues of bilateral foot disability, right shoulder condition, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss for further development.,Service connection was granted for a cervical spine condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and reasoning regarding the etiology of the veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The examiner did not provide a clear opinion on whether the hearing loss existed prior to service or was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has remanded his claim for service connection of degenerative eye problems.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and bilateral hearing loss, finding no current disability in either condition.