Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for right maxillary sinusitis secondary to fracture zygoma are denied as the earliest effective date is August 1, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and his claim for TDIU is therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 2, 2018, for the increased evaluation of 50 percent for service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left ear sensorineural hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for status-post left maxillary sinusotomy with headaches and service connection for sleep apnea are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development and readjudication due to outstanding VA treatment records, Social Security Administration disability benefit records, and a need for an examination to determine the etiology of his left ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his bilateral high frequency sensorineural hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral ear hearing loss as there is no credible medical or lay evidence showing a diagnosis of a hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on his audiometric test results.,Service connection for residuals of malaria, numbness, tingling and weakness throughout body (claimed as due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune), prostate disability, colon polyps, and hypertension were all denied. The Board found that there was no evidence supporting these claims.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy at the sciatic nerve is rated as 20 percent disabling, effective October 27, 2020.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy at the sciatic nerve is also rated as 20 percent disabling, effective October 27, 2020.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for several service connection and increased rating claims due to a withdrawal by the appellant's authorized representative.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases are being remanded due to the receipt of additional VA treatment records. The Board will review all evidence, including new records, and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

Service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is granted.,Effective October 18, 2013, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder is granted an increased rating to 100 percent effective April 3, 2017. The other claims are denied as new and material evidence has not been received.

The Veteran's appeal for residuals of a left finger injury is dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability and the evidence does not support its onset during service or within one year after separation.,The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD) is remanded. The Board requires VA to attempt to corroborate in-service stressors and provide a medical examination to determine if the condition is related to service.,The Veteran's claim for residuals of traumatic brain injury (claimed as a head injury) is remanded. A medical examination is required to determine if his current symptoms are related to an in-service head injury.,The Veteran's claim for a bilateral eye disability is remanded. The VA must provide a medical examination to determine if the condition is related to service and/or aggravated by any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hearing loss was rated as noncompensable prior to November 15, 2022. After that date, a 10 percent rating is granted for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to February 6, 2018.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted based on the PACT Act, presumptive for exposure to herbicides.,Bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is granted as it is presumed due to in-service noise exposure.,Nummular dermatitis and diabetic dermopathy of the bilateral lower extremities are granted as they are presumed due to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.