Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss for VA purposes and thus not meeting the criteria for a disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.385.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the maximum rating for tinnitus (10%) has already been assigned. The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of tinnitus prior to December 20, 2018 is denied.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable, with a Level I hearing acuity in both ears. The Board denied the claim for a compensable rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim for lumbar spine back condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted service connection for recurrent moderate major depressive disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected plantar fasciitis, pseudofolliculitis barbae residual anterior neck scars, and right eye corneal scars.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral or unilateral hearing loss and a right eye disorder, finding that there is no evidence of current disabilities meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were evaluated, but both conditions resulted in non-compensable disability ratings. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings for either condition.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired deformity of the right foot are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The AOJ is instructed to provide further examinations and consider additional evidence.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as initial compensable evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, have all been denied.,There is no evidence to support earlier effective dates prior to January 10, 2022.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability for VA compensation benefits purposes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current disability meeting the VA compensation criteria.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was remanded due to a need for a medical examination and opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of various conditions, including degenerative arthritis of the spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and other disabilities. The earliest effective date assigned was October 28, 2020.

The Board remands the claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) for further development.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and denied service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease, varicose veins, peripheral vascular disease resulting in femoral bypass surgery, diverticulitis, and migraines.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for service-connected left ear hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than the maximum schedular disability rating of 10 percent for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there are outstanding medical records, a need for an updated VA examination, and further development is required.

The Veteran's diabetes is granted as secondary to service-connected hypertension. His left ear hearing loss and right ankle tendonitis and sprain are denied, while his allergic rhinitis remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disorder as defined by VA regulations, and therefore cannot establish service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to hazardous noise exposure during his military service. The VA is instructed to obtain the Veteran's complete STRs, including a separation Report of Medical History, and provide an addendum medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure is related to his current condition.