Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for SMC based on aid and attendance, finding that prior to November 5, 2018, he did not require regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes and hypertension have been denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within the applicable presumptive period.,Service connection has not been established for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no current disabilities for bilateral hearing loss, left wrist disability, right ankle disability, or patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee that meet VA criteria for compensation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 0 percent, the lowest possible rating. The VA determined that his hearing acuity does not warrant a higher rating based on the audiometric test results.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring additional development of evidence related to the Veteran's hearing loss claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected, but an earlier effective date prior to November 23, 2021, for the grant of service connection for left hand strain and pilonidal cyst is denied.,Tinnitus, otitis externa, inner ear disability, vertigo, depression, dementia, hypertension, and skin cancer are all remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA audiological opinion, and a new addendum opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus aggravated his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability, defined by VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with its previous remand instructions. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is pending and will be further developed.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) for the entire period on appeal, excluding a temporary total rating period from January 30, 2024, to February 29, 2024.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is granted. The claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, and prostate cancer are remanded.

The Veteran's death from Covid-19 is not service-connected as his conditions did not have their onset in service and were not related to any in-service injury or disease, including the service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's current right and left ear hearing loss disability is related to service noise exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss on a presumptive basis due to continuous symptoms since separation from service.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim of service connection for sinusitis due to insufficient consideration of evidence in the June 2019 decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted as new and relevant evidence has been submitted, and the private medical opinion supports a link between his current hearing loss and noise exposure in service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD), a neck disability, osteoarthritis of the right elbow (now claimed as a right arm disability), and right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus was rated at 10 percent disabling, and his left ear hearing loss did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and pes planus, make it impossible for him to maintain substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).