Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee condition and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are due to his military service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis and sinusitis.,An initial compensable rating for the Veteran's allergic rhinitis prior to November 18, 2020 was denied. From that date onwards, a 10% rating has been assigned.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to acoustic trauma during his military service, which is sufficient to establish a link between his current disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) and his service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable since October 25, 2017.,VA granted service connection for CAD due to presumed herbicide exposure in March 2012.,VA granted a TDIU effective October 25, 2017 based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.,VA denied a TDIU application from April 2010 to October 25, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate VA etiological opinions. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on various service-connected conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings for hearing loss, headaches, TBI, mandibular malunion with TMJ, septal fracture post rhinoplasty, left femur fracture residuals, and scar of the left femur.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and private audiometric data. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to December 4, 2021, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is now pending.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the inadequacy of the May 2018 VA examination. A new VA examination with a different examiner will be scheduled.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection, but his hemorrhoids are denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for a left knee condition, left shoulder strain, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder (other specified anxiety disorder) is granted.

The Board vacated the November 18, 2021 decision denying service connection for the Veteran's cause of death due to new evidence submitted by the appellant. The appeal is now considered reopened and will be reconsidered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of hearing impairment for VA disability purposes during his military service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have post-service noise exposure to support a direct service connection claim.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability has worsened since his last VA examination in December 2016, and he should be afforded a new examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board dismissed the appeal of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability. Service connection was granted for asthma, head laceration scar, an acquired psychiatric disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to July 13, 2021, and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus and PTSD are granted service connection. The initial 100% rating for PTSD prior to August 10, 2016 is granted. Other conditions (TBI, migraine headaches, and hearing loss) are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as non-compensable, and the claim for a compensable rating is denied. The Veteran's occipital nerve injury residuals are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to February 14, 2019 and a higher rating thereafter is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for intervertebral disk syndrome prior to February 10, 2013 and a higher rating thereafter is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for intervertebral disk syndrome prior to July 25, 2008 is dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability has been reopened based on new and material evidence.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) is granted.,TDIU from February 14, 2019 is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment during the period from January 1, 2017 through January 10, 2017.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and a rating in excess of 40 percent for low back disability (exclusive of a period of temporary total rating from April 28, 2014 to April 30, 2015).