Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating of 30 percent, but no higher, from June 1, 2016, to January 21, 2020, for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claim for a disability rating in excess of 60 percent from January 21, 2020, is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased rating of migraine headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient development or medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current ratings are already at the maximum allowed under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied by the Board, and no effective date is assigned.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment as of April 26, 2022. The Board granted a TDIU from that date.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 30 percent, effective from February 21, 2022. The Board denied an increased rating prior to this date.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, right elbow disability, skin disorder, diabetes, hepatitis C, and cholecystectomy residuals due to additional development of records and obtaining addendum opinions from different examiners.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to exposure to acoustic trauma during active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, colon disability, skin disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to insufficient evidence. A new examination is required.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases in the August 2021 decision, specifically addressing the February 2009 VA examination report and the Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset of symptoms.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability have been granted service connection.,Service connection for the Veteran's left lung disorder and left ankle disorder is remanded due to additional evidence needing consideration.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected. The respiratory disability claim is remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection and there was insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his current condition.

The Veteran's service-connected COPD is granted, and he is now eligible for a TDIU effective August 1, 2019. However, the Board denied his request for an earlier effective date for the TDIU.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of August 7, 2017. His eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is also granted as of this date.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral hearing loss, as there was a duty to assist error in the original decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus between current hearing loss and tinnitus and military service.