Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating, but no greater. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim for a higher rating than 40 percent was denied.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss and right knee because the appellant requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Veteran's lung cancer is granted service connection, while his right and left shoulder disabilities, Barrett's esophagus, hiatal hernia, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss disability are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and bilateral hearing loss do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he was able to work before his disability onset in 1997. The Board denied the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and low back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the back, and PTSD due to a lack of adequate medical opinions addressing the relationship between these conditions and service. The case is now pending further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to non-compliance with previous remands and insufficient consideration of the Veteran's exposure to noise during service. The case will be reviewed again for a comprehensive evaluation.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including investigating the Veteran's service in Korea and Kuwait, obtaining his complete military personnel records, and obtaining any outstanding VA and private treatment records. The claims for right hand frostbite, bilateral hand disability, back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and/or PTSD), left knee disability, right knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss are all remanded.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and the case is remanded for further development regarding a TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and headaches. The issues of service connection for hearing loss and secondary service connection for headaches related to left eye disability are now before the Board.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher evaluation for his right ear hearing loss disability, an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD beginning August 13, 2015, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting any of these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to have started during his active service, while the evidence does not support a link between his current bilateral hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back disability, and a left arm disability, as well as an increased rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was received on February 20, 2015. The Board denied an earlier effective date because the claim was not filed until then.

The Veteran's asthma is granted service connection under the PACT Act, and his MDD and PTSD claims are remanded for further development. His right ear hearing loss and sleep apnea claims are also remanded.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is found to have started during service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The appeal for service connection for tinea pedis is dismissed. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a left leg disability is reopened and remanded. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left eye disability, and lumbar spine disability are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received after a September 2022 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board denied requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran did not file an informal claim raising these issues prior to June 24, 2014.