Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a TDIU prior to October 22, 2009 is being remanded for further consideration. The Board finds that the Veteran may be unemployable due to his service-connected PTSD and has referred the case to the Director of Compensation Service for an initial determination on whether an extraschedular award based on TDIU should be assigned.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that the claim was filed in May 2012 and the first evidence showing entitlement arose in September 2012. The effective date of the award is set at May 17, 2012.

The Veteran's appeals on various service connection claims have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's appeal is about determining and adjusting the rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability. The case has been remanded to obtain updated medical records and schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The claims for service connection for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), and right biceps strain with scar are granted. Service connection for a low back disorder and residuals of TBI are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for clothing allowances is denied because the items claimed (antifungal cream, custom insoles, back brace, and knee braces) are not prescribed for service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied reopening of the service connection claim for hearing loss in the right ear as no new and material evidence was submitted, despite previous noise exposure and current disability.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss was denied as the audiometric results did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss and sleep apnea (secondary to PTSD) is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. However, he is granted a TDIU effective October 18, 2010.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an initial compensable rating for pleural plaques are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied as his disabilities did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's tables. The Board found that his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable due to their impact on employment.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, lung condition, fatigue, shortness of breath, and right-sided pain due to lack of sufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to failure to report to scheduled VA examinations and because of lack of entitlement under the law. The claims will be reconsidered after new evidence is obtained.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to December 8, 2004 and May 3, 2017 are being remanded as the RO/AMC needs to issue a Statement of the Case on these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss based on the April 2018 expert medical opinion linking in-service noise exposure to current hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeals to reopen claims for service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, and residuals of a head injury are granted. The appeal seeking to reopen the claim for service connection for hearing loss is also remanded.