Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus have been remanded due to the failure of the Veteran to report for scheduled VA examinations. The Board finds that a new examination is necessary to determine if the Veteran has these disabilities, their etiology, and whether they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. For the period from March 14, 2019 onwards, a 10% disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus has been granted. However, the initial rating for bilateral hearing loss from April 10, 2015 remains denied, as does the initial rating for TBI with residual tension headaches and vertigo from October 4, 2017. A separate compensable rating of 30% for vertigo as a residual of TBI has been granted.

The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against such a finding. The effective dates for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for acquired psychiatric disorder, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The Board also granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss as it is etiologically related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he does not have a current disability for VA purposes.,His hypertension claim was also denied, as his blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to insufficient evidence, including lack of in-service hearing loss and inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is also being asked to provide a complete employment and education history.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on the current level of disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. As a result, both claims remain denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 70 percent from March 28, 2018 to March 26, 2019. The TDIU claim was granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,A 40 percent rating for the service-connected residuals of fractured left distal radius is granted, effective from November 26, 2014. A separate 20 percent rating for three painful surgical scars associated with the residual fractured left distal radius is also granted.,The Veteran's TDIU claim due to his service-connected disabilities is remanded pending assignment of appropriate disability ratings.

The Board has remanded four issues related to hearing loss, tinnitus, right shoulder pain, and lumbosacral strain due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, and to determine if an earlier effective date is warranted.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable evaluations for right and left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as her appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include simple phobia (now consolidated under major depressive disorder with PTSD and insomnia), have been dismissed. The Veteran has also been granted a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for gout, hypertension, left knee disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The effective date of the grant of service connection for chronic sinusitis is denied as there was no prior claim filed before May 1, 2017.

The Board has reopened the previously denied service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence received since the April 2013 rating decision. The case is now remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private audiological records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than August 11, 2017 for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the R-2 rate due to insufficient evidence showing a need for higher level care on a daily basis.