Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 20% prior to August 27, 2025. From that date forward, the rating was increased to 40%. The effective date is not specified.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current disability proximate to the appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been manifested by, at worst, Level VII hearing loss in the right ear and Level IX hearing loss in the left ear. The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted a 100% disability rating for schizophrenia effective September 6, 2023. The Veteran's basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is also granted with an effective date of September 6, 2023. However, the issue of increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss remains pending and requires further examination.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and depressive disorder were denied, while his TDIU claim was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss or a higher rating for depressive disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70% rating from July 30, 2018 to February 16, 2021. His bilateral hearing loss claim is dismissed and his TDIU status remains granted but the effective date for TDIU changes due to new circumstances.

The Veteran's kidney cancer, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and pseudofolliculitis barbae are remanded for further development to obtain VA treatment records from his primary care physician, Dr. J.B., his kidney provider, Dr. A.P., and his kidney cancer provider, Dr. Q.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted as his current disabilities are found to be related to his active duty.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss was dismissed because the appeal request was not filed within one year of the June 21, 2024 rating decision and no good cause was provided.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and lumbar spine disability. Service connection is denied for right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 31, 2020.

The Veteran's increase rating requests for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD from October 30, 2024 have been denied. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected PTSD has been granted since December 27, 2023. Special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status for the same period has also been granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 70 percent, but no higher. The Veteran's tinnitus remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for HTN and right ear hearing loss were granted. A separate 10% rating was granted for painful limitation of flexion in the bilateral knees, while a denial was issued for an increased rating for central serous choretinopathy and for a rating in excess of 10% for bilateral lateral instability.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied. The Board has remanded the issues regarding right forearm, hand, and ankle disabilities due to insufficient evidence.

The appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's treatment records from Carolina ENT are not associated with his claims file, and VA needs to attempt to obtain these records.

The Board has granted service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) and denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and hearing loss. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were denied.