Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to incomplete evaluations, including a lack of consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service noise exposure. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on the severity of his disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a new VA examination regarding hearing loss and tinnitus. The issues of service connection for both conditions are now pending.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his TDIU claim and bilateral hearing loss rating were both denied. The Veteran is currently in receipt of a 100% combined disability rating due to service-connected coronary artery disease, but the Board found that he did not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on any single service-connected condition other than his coronary artery disease. His bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension due to herbicide exposure under the PACT Act. The Veteran's other claims are remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of recent VA examination and potential outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for effective dates earlier than July 15, 2014, for grants of service connection and initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and right fourth and fifth toe sprains. The appeal is also dismissed for entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right fourth and fifth toe sprains.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete development and addressing all theories of entitlement, including secondary service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and remanded his claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the audiometric testing does not support such a rating.

The Board denied service connection for gout of the right great toe and granted a 20 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to August 13, 2021.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus may be related to exposure to jet fuel during service, but more evidence is needed to determine this. The case is being sent back for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's Ischemic Heart Disease is granted service connection due to herbicide exposure. For the period prior to August 17, 2022, a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied. An increased rating of 30 percent but no higher for bilateral hearing loss is granted effective from August 17, 2022.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a hearing loss disorder is granted, and his PTSD rating is increased to 70 percent. The issue of entitlement to TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for Meniere's syndrome with hearing impairment and tinnitus is denied as there was no communication prior to February 6, 2012 that could be construed as a reopening of the previously denied claim or a new entitlement to benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to a duty to assist error. The VA examiner did not address the conflicting evidence of record and the IOM report, which may affect the opinion on whether the current hearing loss is related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be due to in-service noise exposure and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss effective July 18, 2019. The appeal as to an earlier effective date for tinnitus is dismissed.