Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee disability, left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, tinnitus, and major depressive disorder. The cases are now remanded for further development as specified.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current level of hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings of his bilateral hearing loss disability remain in appellate status due to the increases granted by the RO. The Board has remanded these issues multiple times, but the Veteran is not entitled to a compensable rating for the period prior to January 3, 2022 and a rating in excess of 20 percent for the periods from January 3, 2022 to June 30, 2023 and since June 30, 2023.

The Board has denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus. The Veteran's claims for service connection of left ear hearing loss, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy, and a cervical spine condition are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it had onset during service with continuity of symptoms following service.,For his lumbosacral strain, right leg iliotibial band friction syndrome, vertigo, and right ear hearing loss claims, the Board finds remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of bilateral hearing loss, chronic headaches, low back pain, lower left and right extremity radiculopathy, and a cervical spine disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence supports a conclusion that the Veteran had normal hearing at service entry and slight hearing loss in service. The Board also found that this in-service hearing loss did not resolve after service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of a sufficient nexus opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed because the appellant requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as service connected. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, is remanded.

The request to reopen service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus and PTSD are both denied.

The Veteran's application to reopen his right ear hearing loss disability claim was granted. His bilateral inguinal hernias and lumbosacral spine DDD claims were denied, as well as an increased rating for the latter condition prior to August 9, 2022. The earlier effective date of February 19, 2016 for his right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy claim was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and GERD disabilities are granted, with a rating of 30 percent. The left elbow disability is granted but at the maximum allowable rating (10%). Other issues remain pending.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, left knee disability, and right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's initial ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been denied as the evidence does not show symptomatology that is not contemplated by the rating criteria.,For the appeal period from February 12, 2018, to August 3, 2020, the Veteran has not met the requirements for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and other conditions such as right shoulder, bilateral pes planus, positional vertigo, tinnitus, right elbow, right knee, hiatal hernia, have rendered him unemployable. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for adding his child I.L. and spouse E. as dependents to his VA disability compensation award, but the Board finds that no such effective date is warranted.,VA denied recognition of E. as the Veteran's dependent spouse due to incomplete information provided by the Veteran regarding his marital history.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to September 19, 2019. The evidence did not support the claim of bilateral hearing loss being related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected conditions, including left hip trochanteric pain syndrome, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome. The AOJ is directed to obtain additional VA treatment records from the Washington D.C. VAMC and any relevant private treatment records before readjudicating these issues.