Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for gastritis are being remanded due to outstanding records that need to be associated with the case file.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, combined, rendered him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment during the rating period from January 20, 2016 through December 6, 2021. The Board granted TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss of the right ear, leukemia, sleep apnea, gout, and hyperthyroidism are being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their service connection.

The Board denied an effective date prior to February 17, 2017, for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to that date.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim for hearing loss and has remanded his claim for PTSD. The case is now pending for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the appeals are remanded for further development and rating actions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence added since the last Statement of the Case, and the Veteran requested that the RO review this evidence first.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing disability and military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss was rated as noncompensable prior to January 31, 2020 and increased to 30 percent from January 31, 2020 to April 4, 2023. The Veteran is seeking a rating in excess of 60 percent for his hearing loss since April 4, 2023.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as Level I in all VA examinations conducted during the appeal period, warranting a 0 percent disability rating. Therefore, an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss due to lack of current disability. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for increased disability evaluations for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the Veteran is not entitled to a higher evaluation based on his audiometric test results, and no extraschedular rating was warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus began during active service. The decision also remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to potential issues with the evidence provided.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, and thus no further action will be taken on these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be further evaluated with a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and an initial rating for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran is also entitled to a compensable initial rating for his service-connected right ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss due to a duty to assist error and incomplete audiometric test results.

The appeal regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and erectile dysfunction is dismissed. A 50% disability rating for the Veteran's bilateral foot disability (heel spurs, plantar warts, hammer toes) is granted. The appeals regarding right knee, left knee disabilities, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, along with other service-connected conditions, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU as his disability is manageable by medication and restricted diet.