Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure causing current hearing loss.

The Veteran's initial and continued noncompensable ratings for right ear hearing loss (prior to May 14, 2022) and bilateral hearing loss (since May 14, 2022) have been denied.,The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but remanded the issue of right ear hearing loss due to potential worsening and need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable for the period beginning October 19, 2020. The Board found that his hearing acuity did not meet criteria for a compensable rating under VA's Rating Schedule.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and has determined that he meets the criteria for service connection based on evidence showing a current disability, in-service noise exposure, and a causal relationship between the current disability and military service.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for right ear hearing loss due to inadequate opinion and failure to consider all relevant evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum VA medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn led to his Type II diabetes mellitus.

All issues related to service connection have been either granted in full or finally denied by the Board without subsequent appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete development of records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, granted under the PACT Act, is upheld. His initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to September 23, 2019, and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter are denied. A separate 40 percent rating for TBI residuals apart from PTSD with TBI residuals is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is at least as likely as not caused by military service. The decision is based on a VA examination conducted in December 2022.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, high blood pressure (hypertension), and several other conditions due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.,Service connection was not granted as there is no medical evidence showing that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated during the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for an increased rating for coronary artery disease and a TDIU. The effective date of service connection remains April 10, 2018.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities for the period from September 27, 2012 to December 28, 2015 and for the period from December 29, 2015 to present.

The Board has denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the claims of service connection for COPD, OSA, and liver cancer due to asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition was denied as the evidence did not support a finding that his current back condition had its onset during active duty or is otherwise related to an in-service injury.,For the period prior to March 2, 2021, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 20 percent (Level VII for the left ear and Level III for the right ear).

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and dismissed the claim for TDIU as moot due to the Veteran's combined schedular rating of 100%.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to January 5, 2021 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension. Additional development is needed as there are outstanding VA treatment records that have not been obtained.