Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss from April 19, 2021. The Veteran's hearing acuity decreased between the June 2014 and April 2021 examinations, but there is no sufficient evidence to determine when his hearing worsened to a compensable level.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to scheduling issues and the need for a VA audiological examination. The Veteran's hearing loss disability needs further evaluation, and a medical opinion is required.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been manifested by hearing acuity of no worse than Level I in both ears, resulting in a zero percent disability rating. The Board denied the claim for a compensable rating as the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's cysts on organs and skin condition due to exposure to herbicide agents are denied as not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding it presumptively related to herbicide exposure. However, the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not considered a disability for VA purposes and thus service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the absence of his July 2020 VA audiogram.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to February 19, 2021, was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss from February 19, 2021, was also denied.

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

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to procedural defects in the modernized review system.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent from February 24, 2022. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as non-compensable, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied in August 2018. The Veteran submitted a new claim on November 10, 2021, which resulted in the grant of service connection effective November 10, 2021.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected, with the benefit of doubt given to his claim.,Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both found to be related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed as the benefit was already granted in a previous decision.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for asthma and bilateral hearing loss prior to November 19, 2018 have both been denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. High cholesterol and psychiatric disorders are denied. The remaining claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted and remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss, depressive disorder, and tinnitus) do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to service connection, as well as the increased rating claim for a headache condition. The VA examiner is asked to provide opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus based on his lay statements of noise exposure during service and symptoms at separation. An addendum opinion is also needed regarding the nature and severity of the Veteran's headache condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, vision loss and light sensitivity, and bilateral hearing loss are related to service. However, due to a lack of examination for these conditions, the case is being remanded.