Hearing loss Board decisions

The appeals of the claims for right ear hearing loss, dental disability, and tinnitus have been withdrawn. The remaining issues are dismissed due to lack of evidence or new information.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus do not show a reasonable possibility that he was unemployable prior to January 27, 2022. The Board denied entitlement to a TDIU based on a single service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations. The issues include head injuries, psychiatric disorders, hearing loss, sleep apnea, spine problems, nerve damage in limbs, and knee disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for hearing loss as the appellant withdrew it before a decision was made.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to April 4, 2018 and service connection for his neck disorder. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of a more severe disability warranting an increased rating or a link between the current condition and service.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for left ear hearing loss and service connection for right ear hearing loss have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to his right ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to insufficient evidence showing he is helpless enough to require assistance from another person.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hypertrophy, memory disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, lumbar spine disability (chronic low back pain), chronic cervical strain, allergic rhinitis, gastrointestinal disabilities, colon diverticulosis, and degenerative joint diseases of multiple joints. The Board found no evidence to support service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn. The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during service and have continued since. Service connection for a left shoulder disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the current VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and lumbar disorder, back pain, degenerative arthritis due to new evidence of worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted service connection based on noise exposure during service. The claims for a right shoulder disorder, sinus disorder, headaches and vertigo (claimed as secondary to sinus disorder), and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, stress fractures of both lower extremities, left knee instability, and synovial cyst at L4-L5. The claim for new and material evidence to reopen service connection for left elbow arthritis was granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left ear tinnitus, residuals of broken clavicle, left, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete service treatment records and insufficient VA opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease and Parkinsonism with urinary problems, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since May 22, 2020. The Board has granted TDIU for this period but has remanded the issue of TDIU prior to May 22, 2020.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at a 30 percent rating as of June 23, 2021. Prior to that date, the disability was not compensable.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a causal relationship between his current hearing loss and his active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential issues with the adequacy of the September 2017 VA examination, particularly regarding the right ear hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are not related to active service or any incident of service.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted. For the period from September 29, 2017 onward, his psychiatric disability (including PTSD) does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to issues with substitution of the appellant as a claimant. The AOJ needs to determine if the appellant is a valid substituted claimant.