Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The effective date of the TDIU is remanded due to a lack of clarity in the record regarding when the Veteran became eligible for this benefit.

The Board has remanded the case for further action on issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an earlier effective date for tinnitus. The Veteran's claims are currently pending.

The Veteran's headache condition had its onset in service and has continued unabated since separation. The claim for service connection for a headache disability is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran's tinnitus rating remains denied as it is at its maximum schedular rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's preexisting hearing loss worsened during service and is therefore considered aggravated by service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and has determined that there is at least a reasonable possibility that his current bilateral hearing loss was incurred in or caused by service. The Veteran had in-service exposure to hazardous noise, including firearms, which may have contributed to his current condition.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to inadequate examination reports and the need for additional development. The Veteran's claims include back, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, hip, knee, and CTS conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the Board cannot make such a determination in the first instance due to their service-connected psychiatric disability. The case will be referred to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, but the effective date remains to be determined by the AOJ.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including hearing loss, depression/anxiety (claimed as PTSD), lower back condition, headaches/migraines, and sleep apnea. The reasons for remanding these cases include needing a new VA examination due to the passage of time since the last examination, verifying stressor events in service, and considering whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, thus the claim for TDIU is denied.

Your claims of service connection for refractive error, pterygium of the left eye, and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed as your appeal has been withdrawn by you through a Higher-Level Review (HLR).

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and earlier effective dates for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all remanded for further evaluation. The VA will obtain updated treatment records, schedule the Veteran for a new examination to assess his PTSD, and determine if his hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to be manifested by hearing acuity of no worse than Level I in both ears prior to August 10, 2021. As of August 10, 2021, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was manifested by hearing acuity of no worse than Level II in the right ear and Level IV in the left ear. The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded two issues related to the Veteran's tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, as new evidence was added since the last Statement of the Case.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral flat feet, back disability, jaw disability, bilateral hearing loss, and nerve disability. However, these claims are still pending as they have been remanded due to additional evidence being requested.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been provided to substantiate his claims. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosed disability or persistent symptoms.