Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied prior to December 7, 2018. However, starting from that date, the Veteran is granted a 100% disability rating and SMC based on deafness in both ears.,Effective December 7, 2018, the Veteran's hearing loss disability is rated at 100%, which grants him a higher compensation rate.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to the appellant's service discharge and his claims for service connection. The appeal is not about service connection at all, but rather a determination of whether his discharge from active duty bars him from receiving VA benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, while his claims for tinnitus and intravertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine were granted. The Veteran received a 40 percent evaluation for his service-connected intravertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine prior to June 15, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need to associate medical records with his claims file.

Service connection is granted for headaches, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, and thoracolumbar spine disorder.,Service connection is denied for hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), RIGHT ankle disorder, LEFT knee disorder, RIGHT knee disorder, radiculopathy of the RIGHT lower extremity, radiculopathy of the LEFT lower extremity, and cervical spine / neck disorder.,Service connection is remanded for radiculopathy of the RIGHT upper extremity and radiculopathy of the LEFT upper extremity.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is seeking service connection for this condition, which he contends is related to his military service. The appeal will be reconsidered after obtaining additional evidence and an updated medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for various disability ratings and effective dates have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all open claims in an April 2018 letter.

The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to the Veteran's service-connected conditions from January 4, 2010, to June 12, 2011. The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment during this period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.,Service connection is denied for status post sternum fracture, bilateral hearing loss, supraventricular arrhythmia, hypertension, eye condition, varicose veins, tinnitus, fibroids of the breast, bilateral pes planus, degenerative joint disease of the right hand, and degenerative joint disease of the left hand.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure. The Veteran contends that his hearing loss began as a result of an in-service tank blast, but there are conflicting opinions and further examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral eye disability, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability due to incomplete service treatment records. Additional VA examinations are needed.

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

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not meet the schedular criteria for such a rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and right foot disorder are denied.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings. The effective date of service connection for hypertension is denied as it arose after July 30, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to July 23, 2021 is being remanded due to the need to obtain all potentially relevant records from the Social Security Administration.

The Board has granted the petitions to reopen claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, eye disorder, and skin disorder. The issues of entitlement to service connection for these conditions are remanded due to outstanding private medical records.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the Veteran's pre-existing condition noted at entrance into service. The case is remanded for further development regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,For all other claims, the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating and his maximum allowable ratings are in place.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not support a finding that his hearing loss was more severe than currently rated during the period on appeal.