Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating prior to January 19, 2022 is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with its prior remand directives and has ordered further development to ensure proper adjudication of the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but has remanded the diabetes mellitus type II claim due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to additional VA records being added into the case. The Veteran was not provided an opportunity to review these records before they were considered.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses.,The Veteran's claims for right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, neuropathy/radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and neuropathy/radiculopathy of the left lower extremity were also denied due to lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The claims for initial ratings for right ankle strain, left ankle tendonitis, and lumbosacral strain (IVDS) are granted with specific disability ratings. The claim for a compensable rating for the service-connected left ankle scar is denied. The claims for initial ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerves remain pending.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with a Level VIII in the left ear and a Level I in the right ear.,The Veteran's umbilical hernia disability is rated as noncompensable due to lack of need for a supporting belt or indication of severe diastasis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his hypertension, bilateral ankle disorders, breathing problems, sleep condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension due to herbicide agent exposure is granted. The other issues are remanded and will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied from February 6, 2013, to January 3, 2023.,A higher rating of more than 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss has also been denied since January 4, 2023.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD, finding that there is no credible evidence of in-service GERD symptomatology and no competent medical opinion linking the condition to service.,The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential intercurrent causes not related to service. The Veteran's noise exposure during service may be considered, but further examination and opinion are needed to determine if current hearing loss or tinnitus is related to service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss claim is denied as he does not have a diagnosed disability that meets VA criteria.,PTSD is granted with an initial rating of 70 percent, reflecting the severity and frequency of symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss was reopened, and the Board granted service connection for this condition. The rating assigned is 40 percent effective from June 17, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected radiculopathy, right sciatic nerve, left sciatic nerve, hemorrhoids, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, kidney stones, lip numbness, and gastrointestinal disorders have been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his hearing loss did not begin in service or shortly after service and is otherwise unrelated to service.

The Board denied service connection for right and left ear hearing loss disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing the presence of current disability during or within one year after service, as well as no medical opinion linking these disabilities to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of initial and non-initial ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with spondylolisthesis with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, as well as a non-initial rating for spondylolisthesis with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's claims are remanded due to the need for new examinations.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to a compensable disability rating prior to August 13, 2021, for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 50 percent from August 13, 2021, for bilateral hearing loss. The issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to August 13, 2021, is also remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated noncompensable (zero percent) from September 12, 2017 to January 23, 2019 and 10 percent thereafter. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to new evidence being added after the most recent Supplemental Statement of the Case.