Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the onset or causation of these disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, while his bilateral hearing loss and lumbar spine disability are denied.,The Board finds that the evidence is at least in approximate balance for the grant of service connection for tinnitus but denies service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remands the issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss prior to August 24, 2022 and in excess of 40 percent thereafter was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's hearing impairment did not warrant higher ratings based on the current evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bilateral hearing loss, finding that he did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on the audiometric test results.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher initial ratings for radiculopathy of both lower extremities and service connection for a chronic headache disability, as well as for a respiratory disability. The Veteran's hearing loss claim is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU is being remanded due to missing VA audiometric test results from assessments conducted in October 2021, December 2018, and July 2017. These tests may contain relevant information pertinent to the progression of his hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was increased to a 40 percent rating for the period beginning August 2, 2022. The previous rating of 30 percent has been maintained prior to that date.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for the following issues: entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for service-connected PTSD, entitlement to a compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and entitlement to service connection for psoriatic arthritis. Additionally, the matter of total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the above issues.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of a TDIU was dismissed as the Board does not have jurisdiction over freestanding claims.,The Appellant's claim for CUE in prior rating decisions was also dismissed without prejudice.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not caused by his military noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and whether it can be attributed to service.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to active service, and it did not manifest within one year of service. The Board denies the claim for service connection.,The Veteran's current sleep disorder (other than sleep apnea) was not incurred in or related to active service. The Board also denies this claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to procedural errors and the need for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment since June 1, 2021. The Board granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of all his service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an opinion addressing whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was aggravated by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be returned for further review.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the issue of entitlement to a TDIU based on service-connected disabilities is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the Veteran's in-service audiograms and their conversion from ASA standards to ISO-ANSI. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is now pending.

The Board has dismissed the AMA appeals for service connection of various conditions, as it is a procedural defect due to improper docketing in the AMA system. The Legacy appeal remains active and will be adjudicated further.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, cataracts, neuropathy of the lower extremities, heart condition, hypertension, and kidney condition is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has dismissed the AMA appeals for service connection of various conditions, as it is a procedural defect due to improper docketing in the AMA system. The Legacy appeal remains active and will be adjudicated further.