Hearing loss Board decisions

The VA denied initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss prior to August 20, 2014, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter. The VA also denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence establishing a nexus to service. New and material evidence has not been received that would raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for tinnitus. The claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability remains denied.,The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for tinnitus due to insufficient evidence.

Service connection is granted for a cervical spine condition (neck disability) with an effective date of November 30, 2012. Effective dates for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are not established as the Veteran did not file claims for these conditions prior to November 30, 2012.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling VA examinations to assess his current disability levels.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent throughout the appeal period, effective from March 29, 2008. A TDIU was also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as Level I in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in the disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for clarification of his hearing loss test results from a previous examination.

The Veteran's depression and bilateral hearing loss have been granted initial ratings of 50 percent each, effective December 16, 2016. The Veteran has also been granted TDIU due to service-connected disabilities since that date.

The claims for bilateral ankle, knee, and hearing loss conditions remain denied. The claim for tinnitus was granted due to new evidence submitted after the January 2015 denial.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that it is related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision on tinnitus is based on the Veteran's in-service noise exposure, while the denial of hearing loss is due to a lack of evidence meeting VA criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a clinician to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding various disabilities, including ratings for knee and elbow conditions, pes planus, hearing loss, and scars. The Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including rating reductions and earlier effective dates. The specific claims include right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, chronic thoracolumbar spine strain, cervical spine strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, major depressive disorder, right ankle posttraumatic degenerative changes, left hand scar, right hip degenerative joint disease, ear nerve damage, left wrist flexor tendinitis, right wrist flexor tendinitis, tinnitus, left knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, sleep disorder, arthritis of the wrists and hands associated with service-connected carpel tunnel syndrome, type II diabetes mellitus. The Board has not reached a decision on these claims at this time.