Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance were granted effective June 27, 2011. The Board found that the Veteran met the schedular requirements for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities of depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss as of this date.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for an effective date earlier than February 18, 2022 for the grant of a 100 percent rating for coronary artery disease and entitlement to a TDIU due to administrative errors. The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for left ankle fracture is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims, including his statements about symptoms during service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate VA examinations in the past. A new examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death before the Board could hear his case. The claims for service connection and TDIU are moot as he died during the pendency of these appeals.

The Board found that the reduction from a 30 percent rating to a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss was proper, as evidenced by improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's period of active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service, including noise exposure.

The Board has found that further evidentiary development is necessary and the case is remanded to ensure compliance with its prior remand instructions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied, and the case was remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss disability due to a lack of recent VA audiology examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss, finding that the audiometric findings did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and right ear hearing loss, finding no current disability or evidence of in-service injury that would support these claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for right leg burn scar. Service connection is granted for respiratory disorder, sinusitis, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, LLE peripheral neuropathy, multiple joint disability (arthritis), fatigue, and GERD based on presumptive exposure to fine particulate matter in the Persian Gulf.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, and thoracic spine disability due to failure to report for a VA examination. The claims are not decided in this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that his disability warranted a rating greater than the current assigned ratings during the periods on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The issues of entitlement to increased evaluations, service connection, and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss, bilateral foot disorder (to include pes planus), right ear hearing loss, back disorder (to include IVDS), heart disorder, and hypertension are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.,Specifically, additional examination is needed to address whether the Veteran's current foot disorders were aggravated by service or related to service.