Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied, as well as his requests for effective dates prior to February 9, 2017. The initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss was denied, while a 40 percent rating for right sciatic nerve radiculopathy from February 9, 2017 was granted.

The Board has decided that the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back disorder, and a cerebral vascular accident are remanded due to additional development being necessary.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as new and material evidence was not received to reopen previously denied claims.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, back disability, right knee disability, and left ankle disability. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to address these issues.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss in both ears should be remanded due to new evidence not having been considered by the RO.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be at least as likely as not related to exposure to loud noise in service, and he has a current disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The rating for the back disability was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to January 21, 2020, and thereafter. Other claims for increased ratings or earlier effective dates were also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development and a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's alcohol use disorder is aggravated by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, and his left ear hearing loss is now rated at 20 percent. The Board found no evidence of more severe hearing loss than what was assigned.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluation of lumbar spine disability, service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, and bilateral hearing loss disability have been withdrawn. The appeal for service connection for arthralgia, bilateral knees has been reopened and granted to limited extent due to new evidence received since the July 2007 denial.

The Veteran's right knee disability status post total knee replacement is granted as service connection. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss, cervical/lumbar spine disability, hypertension (HTN), and abnormal heart rate are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has not resulted in a compensable initial rating, as the audiometric results do not meet the criteria for any higher rating under VA's tables for rating hearing loss disability.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam under the PACT Act. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, and colon cancer are remanded as they do not meet the criteria for service connection based on the PACT Act.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which are related to in-service noise exposure. A new VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of current disability evidence, failure to report for VA examinations without good cause, and insufficient medical opinion regarding etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to lack of a timely substantive appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to August 24, 2020, was dismissed. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a TDIU prior to October 14, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for right ear hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current ratable disability.,His right shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.

The Board has denied service connection for headaches and bilateral hearing loss, but granted service connection for hypertension secondary to a service-connected anxiety disorder.