Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left-sided paralysis, heart disorder, back disorder, and neck disorder. The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and denied a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable, and the claim for an initial compensable rating is denied.,For accrued benefits purposes, a higher than 20 percent rating for residuals of Muscle Group II injury involving the right chest wall is not granted. The current rating remains at 20 percent.,The Veteran's PTSD was rated as 50 percent since May 9, 2012, and a higher than 50 percent rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for cold weather injury residuals of the hands is denied. The remaining issues have been remanded due to a lack of VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, specifically his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to his military noise exposure during combat.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for hearing loss is denied, and a TDIU prior to June 24, 2021, is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo, bilateral hearing loss, and essential hypertension is denied. The Veteran's tinnitus claim results in a denial of a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.,Service connection cannot be established as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of vertigo, bilateral hearing loss, or essential hypertension during the appeal period. The Veteran's tinnitus claim is also denied as his disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of a VA audiometric test from June 7, 2004.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to September 28, 2021 resulted in a disability rating of 50 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to December 31, 2006.

The Board denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not show that the Veteran's hearing impairment exceeded the levels contemplated for a noncompensable schedular rating.

The Veteran's claim for payment of full VA disability compensation benefits while incarcerated is denied due to his incarceration for a felony conviction, which disqualifies him from receiving higher compensation rates.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not found to warrant a compensable rating.,Service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and left knee has been granted.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD). The Veteran seeks to establish a link between his current DDD and his active duty service.,For residuals, fracture of right mandible, the claim is denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and the award of an effective date prior to April 16, 2017, for the award of service connection for a lumbar area scar rated noncompensable (0 percent).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and vertigo, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of November 7, 2006. The Board granted a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Board has determined that there are new VA or private treatment records in the Veteran's file since the February 2018 SOC. The case is being remanded for the AOJ to review these records, readjudicate the claims, and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his low back disorder on an extraschedular basis, TDIU prior to May 16, 2012, and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance of another or being housebound was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to noise exposure during service and granted his claim for service connection.