Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus based on continuity of symptoms since service, as the Veteran reported noticing these conditions during service and they have continued to worsen since separation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for migraine headaches and an acquired psychiatric disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of worsening in his hearing loss or a link between his migraines and tinnitus, nor could it establish a continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of his claim for a higher rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD).

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been rated at 70 percent for the entire period on appeal, and he is granted a TDIU effective from August 25, 2011. The issues of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and an increased rating for PTSD are remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA audiological opinion is inadequate and requires further examination to address the Veteran's hearing loss claims, including whether it was aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his exposure to acoustic trauma during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The claim for PTSD has been reopened, but further evidence is needed to establish its etiology.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for a skin disability, increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, and increased rating for PTSD due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are deemed insufficient to determine if he is unemployable. A new examination and updated VA treatment records are needed to assess the cumulative effect of his conditions on employment.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is not related to an in-service injury or disease and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 50% from December 5, 2017. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any portion of the period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during his military service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, as it was cumulative and redundant. Additionally, the Veteran's need for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance was also denied due to lack of service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability in accordance with VA standards.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for PTSD is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has determined that there is new evidence sufficient to reopen several service connection claims, including for severe headaches, auditory hallucinations, left knee condition, right knee condition, chronic sinusitis, and other conditions. The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further development of his records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine and left knee disabilities, as well as for a right knee disorder and inguinal hernia. The claims for increased ratings are also being remanded.

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

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left and right knee osteoarthritis, as well as his right ear hearing loss. The issues of entitlement to service connection for right knee lateral instability and a compensable evaluation for isolated systolic hypertension have been remanded.