Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 40 percent since October 31, 2022. The Board also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current headache disorder. The claims of an initial compensable rating prior to October 27, 2010 and in excess of 40 percent thereafter for bilateral hearing loss; the issue of whether the Veteran's pension was correctly reduced on October 1, 2005; the issue of the validity of a debt assessed pursuant to reduction in the Veteran's pension; and entitlement to a waiver of the recovery of a debt resulting from an overpayment in the amount of $31,501.00 are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence being associated with the claims file after the issuance of the June 2022 supplemental statement of the case, and it is unclear if this evidence is relevant or how it affects the rating for bilateral high frequency sensorineural hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss on an extraschedular basis was denied due to his failure to report for VA examinations. The claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis was also denied as the Veteran did not complete the necessary application and there is no indication he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to ensure the Veteran receives proper notice for VA examinations and participates in them. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's July 2017 VA Form 9 was timely filed, and therefore grants the appeal as to whether a substantive appeal was timely filed in response to the February 2016 statement of the case.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for tinnitus and service connection for left hand Dupuytren contracture as secondary to diabetes mellitus are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was partially granted, with an initial rating in excess of 10 percent denied for insomnia disorder. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The umbilical hernia claim is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and initial ratings for various conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not due to his in-service exposure to loud noises.,Service connection was also denied for a bilateral hearing loss disability. The examiner found no evidence of noise-induced hearing loss at the time of separation from service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, and the claim for a compensable rating is denied.,From August 14, 2018, the Veteran meets the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for hearing loss is granted. Service connection for left ear hearing loss is also granted, but the right ear hearing loss claim is remanded.

The Veteran's back disability is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic in-service condition and no credible continuity of symptomatology.,The Veteran's bilateral ankle disabilities are denied due to lack of current diagnosis and no credible continuity of symptomatology since service.,The Veteran's bilateral foot disabilities are denied because the Veteran did not have any diagnosed foot or ankle conditions during service, and there is no evidence of aggravation in-service.,The Veteran's skin disorder is denied as there is no current diagnosis and no credible continuity of symptomatology.,The Veteran's headaches are denied due to lack of a chronic in-service condition and no credible continuity of symptomatology.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis and no credible continuity of symptomatology.,The Veteran's tinnitus is denied due to lack of a chronic in-service condition and no credible continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and degenerative arthritis of the left knee due to incomplete development, including a lack of VA examination reports. The Veteran is also seeking an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his request. The TDIU claim prior to March 16, 2020 was denied because the Veteran had been employed full-time until he became disabled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied as there is no current evidence of hearing loss meeting VA compensation criteria.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to May 2, 2022 and in excess of 10 percent thereafter has been denied. The current ratings are found not to meet the criteria for higher evaluations.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to noise exposure sustained in service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not show that he meets or approximates the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and increased disability ratings were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.,The Board granted an effective date of November 1, 2003 for the assignment of a 20 percent disability rating for limitation of abduction due to degenerative joint changes of the right hip.