Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are not rated higher than the current 10 percent assigned.,The Veteran's residuals of right second and third toe amputation do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for his claimed low back condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral tinnitus, and hearing loss in the right ear, have rendered him unemployable. The Board has determined that his TDIU is warranted based on the severity of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is a result of in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there was no prior written communication indicating intent to file a claim.,The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was also denied, with his disability rated at zero percent.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lipomatosis with associated surgical scars. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss was aggravated by service and his left ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The hearing loss claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for treatment purposes only for a lumbar spine disability. The appeal regarding bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disability, and PTSD is remanded due to incomplete service personnel records.

The Board denied an initial compensable disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that his hearing impairment did not meet or exceed the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss and mental health conditions, including PTSD and GAD, have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a current disability (hearing loss and mental health conditions), in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury (noise exposure and stressors), and causal relationship between the current disabilities and in-service diseases or injuries.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a shoulder disorder, neck disorder, hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence showing in-service events or injuries.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased disability ratings due to insufficient evidence and further review is required.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hearing loss is denied because there is no current disability of hearing loss that meets VA criteria.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to exposure to noise during active duty.,Bilateral hearing loss and hypertension are denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria for these conditions.

The Board has found the records incomplete and remanded for several reasons, including obtaining updated private treatment records from the Veteran's ENT provider and VA treatment records. Additionally, a new examination is required to assess the severity of the Veteran's left knee disability due to inadequate previous examination.

The Board has restored the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability rating from 30% to 30%, effective April 1, 2024. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to procedural errors in the VA examinations and lack of audiometric records from his active duty period.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as his symptoms and limitations were manageable with current treatment.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the Board has remanded his service connection claim for bilateral plantar fasciitis.,Service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis is remanded due to a failure to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the separation examination report and post-service private treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The appeal for depression and anxiety secondary to PTSD is dismissed due to the grant of service connection for PTSD.