Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the submission of new evidence.,The effective date for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy will be set at May 18, 2021, as this was when objective evidence first indicated the condition.,Service connection for hypertension cannot be established as there is no in-service disease or injury linked to the condition and it did not manifest within one year of separation from service.,A rating in excess of 40 percent for gout prior to February 22, 2021, is denied. From that date onwards, a 40 percent disability rating is granted.,Service connection for depressive disorder cannot be established as there is no evidence of an in-service disease or injury linked to the condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and painful left wrist scars were denied as the evidence did not support higher disability ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is not service-connected due to the lack of audiometric and speech recognition scores meeting VA criteria for a current disability.,Service connection for chest disability (claimed as chest crush injury) is denied because there is no evidence that the condition had its onset in service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury.

The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board cannot issue a decision on the underlying claim(s) at this time.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his service-connected bilateral hearing loss manifested as, at worst, Level II hearing impairment in both ears.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for tinnitus is denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and TBI are both denied.,The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, is remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability in either case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as his test results show Level I hearing in both ears.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for left ear high frequency sensorineural hearing loss due to the grant of service connection in an earlier decision. The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss on a direct basis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms of hearing loss and tinnitus began during his active duty service.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss warranted a noncompensable rating, while his left ear hearing loss warranted a noncompensable rating.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral lower extremity and upper extremity pulmonary edema were remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board has granted effective dates of December 17, 2020 for service connection and increased ratings in various cases. The claims were reopened on new evidence received after the final decisions.

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

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as the appeal was withdrawn by his attorney.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The VA examiner's opinion is inadequate, as it did not consider the Veteran's assertions regarding in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for low back pain due to the lack of competent and credible evidence of a current disability.,The Board also denied service connection for hearing loss, finding no causal relationship between the claimed disabilities and service.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service loud noise exposure. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral flat feet, and insomnia are granted. The Veteran's right knee disability and left knee disability each receive a rating of 10 percent. A higher rating is denied for the Veteran's insomnia since August 11, 2023, and his lumbar spine disability receives an increased rating to 20 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, allergies, skin cancer, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, left lower extremity, right upper extremity, and right lower extremity, as well as residuals of an aneurysm. Service connection was denied for polyps in colon.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.