Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 10 percent, left knee strain (claimed as right knee pain) is remanded for further review, and tinnitus is rated at 10 percent. The service connection for left ear hearing loss has been denied.

The appeal to restore a 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The appeals for service connection of migraines and BPPV are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity that they prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error related to the adequacy of the September 2021 VA opinion.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues regarding bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus has been dismissed due to the withdrawal by the Veteran's representative.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need to obtain VA treatment records from March 24, 2022.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, and will consider the evidence of record at the time of the June 2022 decision on appeal. The Veteran's hearing loss is currently diagnosed, but there are concerns about its relation to service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral heavy/painful legs, type II diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, lumbar strain (back condition), gastric neoplasm/ulcer (stomach cancer), and a chronic multi-symptom illness are being readjudicated due to the submission of new and relevant evidence.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not show an improvement in his hearing before November 2020.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, skin disorder, left knee disability, right knee disability, and PTSD evaluation.

The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, as the evidence did not support an increase in the ratings or entitlement to TDIU.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, low back disability, cervical spine disability, obstructive sleep apnea, right foot disability, left foot disability, and bilateral hearing loss, due to missing records from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not have its onset during service and is not related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to duty-to-assist errors and requests for additional evidence, including private medical records from the Veteran's railroad employment. The Veteran seeks service connection for tinnitus as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's rating for bilateral hearing loss was reduced from 10 percent to zero percent, effective May 1, 2024. The Board found the reduction improper and restored a 10 percent disability rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's hearing acuity showed Level I impairment in both ears during the entire appeal period, and therefore, he does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral pes planus are remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.