Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's hearing loss disability has been rated at 40 percent from December 1, 2018 to July 28, 2021. The Board finds that a new VA examination is necessary due to the worsening of symptoms and lack of recent audiological evaluations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been manifested by hearing acuity of no worse than Level I in the right ear and no worse than Level II in the left ear. The Board denied a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss as it did not meet the criteria based on the results of audiometric testing.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of January 29, 2020. The Board referred the issue of a TDIU rating prior to January 29, 2020 for consideration on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for hearing loss. The case is now remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability is related to his military service. The decision resolves all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to insufficient medical evidence and a need to obtain private treatment records.

Service connection for tinnitus and a persistent adjustment disorder is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a recurrent gynecological disability to include endometriosis, and a recurrent headache disability are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, finding that he did not have current disability of these conditions as defined by VA compensation standards.

The Board has remanded the cases of tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and seizures for further development. The Veteran's tinnitus is likely related to noise exposure during service. For bilateral hearing loss and seizures, additional medical opinions are needed.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus and service connection for left ear hearing loss is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right-shoulder disorder, but remanded issues regarding reopening of claims for lumbar-spine disorder and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral flat feet, bilateral heel spurs, low back disability, left knee disability, and neck disability. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and opinion.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). The hypertension claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence of current severity.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to new evidence received after the issuance of the Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has granted an effective date of April 25, 2015 for the award of a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the initial rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded due to incomplete examination results. The matter of TDIU, which is inextricably intertwined with the hearing loss claim, is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA audiological examination, and a new one is required for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection and a separate rating for tinnitus was denied. He is currently rated at 100% for peripheral vestibular disorder with hearing loss, tinnitus, and oscillopsia associated with bilateral hearing loss.