Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence supports reopening the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but the August 2020 VA examination was inadequate. The Veteran's recent VA audiological consult results are not associated with the record, and a remand is required to provide these records and schedule an appropriate VA audio examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to an error in the AOJ's decision process. The October 5, 2020 audiological evaluation needs to be associated with the claims file.

The Veteran's restoration of a 40 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is granted effective April 1, 2024. The appeal was not about service connection but rather the restoration of an existing rating.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to errors in the Appeals Modernization Act system. The Board has remanded several issues for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of this condition.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The effective date for the grants was set at July 26, 2018.,The Veteran's asthma is currently rated as 30 percent disabling.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's current right ear hearing loss did not meet the definition of hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board found no evidence to warrant a higher rating based on the provided medical records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to a duty to assist error involving private medical records and workers' compensation records. The AOJ must attempt to obtain these records before considering the merits of the claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates of March 10, 2022 for service connection awards of bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for left ear hearing loss and denied an initial compensable rating for left foot hallux valgus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his active service despite a lack of in-service evidence of hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and headaches, but granted service connection for tinnitus. The decision is remanded due to the lack of evidence meeting VA compensation criteria for hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right knee and left knee conditions, hearing loss, tinnitus, and back issues, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment from September 25, 2017, to January 14, 2020. The Board granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU based on these disabilities.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD. Service connection is denied for a lower back condition and tinnitus is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service. The current evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, and the claims of service connection for right foot pain, left foot pain, right elbow condition with pain, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.,The Veteran's hypertension is not related to his military service. The VA did not provide a VA examination as required by McLendon v. Nicholson.

The Veteran's appeal for VA home loan guaranty benefits was denied because his service did not meet the minimum duration requirement, and he did not qualify for an exception to this rule due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's current disabilities are conceded, but there is conflicting evidence regarding their etiology.