Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of July 10, 1982 for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of hearing loss in the left ear for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis prior to August 1, 2023 due to failure to substantially comply with the Board's October 2023 remand directive.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and medical opinion provided are inadequate to adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The case is being remanded to provide an adequate medical opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of adequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hearing loss and tinnitus as they were not adequately addressed in the previous decision. The Veteran will need to undergo a VA examination to provide medical opinions regarding his conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's tinnitus is assigned the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent under Diagnostic Code (DC) 6260.,The Veteran's left inguinal hernia repair does not more nearly approximate a post-operative recurrent inguinal hernia, readily reducible and well supported by a truss or belt, warranting a compensable rating.,The Veteran's posterior trunk scar, post lumbar surgery, and anterior trunk scar, status post hernia repair do not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating under DC 7802 due to their size and nature.,No effective date provided as this is a denial of claims.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions began during active service and have been continuous since then.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, sinus disorder, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is rated at noncompensable (0%) due to the lack of exceptional pattern of hearing impairment.,Tinnitus has been assigned a maximum schedular rating of 10% since the date of claim, and no higher rating is warranted as it does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent under DC 6260.,The Veteran's post-traumatic stress changes to both wrists are rated at 10%, which is the maximum schedular rating available. No higher rating is warranted based on the evidence of record.,Tinnitus has been granted service connection since July 31, 2019, and no earlier effective date is warranted as there was no pending or unadjudicated claim for tinnitus prior to that date.

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 meeting VA criteria for these conditions during the pendency of the claim. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's reported symptoms of tinnitus and his military noise exposure.

The Veteran is granted TDIU prior to July 3, 2019 due to service-connected disabilities. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as the symptoms are contemplated by the current rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits prior to July 5, 2018. The evidence did not provide a factually ascertainable date that entitlement to a TDIU arose prior to this date.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were denied. The decision granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and GERD but denied it for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's continuous symptoms since service meet the criteria for presumptive service connection. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in the December 2019 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and hemorrhoids due to a lack of Active Duty service treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right hand disability, low back disability, and psychiatric disability are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions.