Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is granted from March 21, 2022. The appeal period prior to March 21, 2022, is addressed in the remand section.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, granted service connection for left knee pain (left knee disability), and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, anxiety, and sleeping problems.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability did not begin during service or is otherwise related to in-service noise exposure, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted service connection, while his right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are preventing him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board is remanding the case to determine if he qualifies for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The appeal for service connection for tinnitus is dismissed. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right knee disability are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was received on February 25, 2021. The effective date of the increased 10 percent rating is set to the date of receipt of the claim due to lack of factual ascertainability within one year prior.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the claim for service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes, as his auditory thresholds do not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that it did not manifest in service or within one year of separation from active duty and is not otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted.,Service connection has been established for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, with the Board resolving all reasonable doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for plantar fasciitis of the left foot, patellofemoral pain syndrome (claimed as left knee pain), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service records did not show any complaints or treatment related to these conditions during or immediately after service.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 9, 2020 is denied. The Veteran's request for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss since January 9, 2020 is also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as noncompensable (0%) during the period under consideration, based on audiometric test results. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to in-service hazardous noise exposure, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether these disabilities began during active service. The decision also notes that there was no adequate medical opinion against a conclusion that these disabilities had their onset in service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of November 20, 2014 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to a higher initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding the service connection for bilateral hearing loss because the appellant requested to withdraw her appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The issues related to service connection and rating increases are not addressed as they pertain to a deceased Veteran.