Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Bilateral hearing loss is not granted as service-connected.,Diabetes mellitus, type II, is not granted as service-connected.,Right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis is not granted as service-connected.,Left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis is not granted as service-connected.,Left hip arthritis is not granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances were denied because the evidence did not show that her knee braces or cane caused damage to her outer garments, and shoes are not considered clothing for VA purposes.,The Veteran was found to have multiple service-connected disabilities including PTSD, lumbosacral strain, bilateral hearing loss and bronchitis, right and left knee conditions, tinnitus, and radiculopathy. However, the evidence did not show that her knee braces or cane caused damage to her outer garments.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board has also remanded the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with sleep disorder, bilateral glaucoma, tinnitus, and foot disability, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's headaches and right ear hearing loss do not warrant a compensable rating, but has remanded for further evaluation. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability was rated at 0 percent since October 2019. The Board found that the audiometric data did not show an increase in severity, and thus denied his claim for a higher rating.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and has granted entitlement to service connection for tinnitus. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to new evidence submitted after the June 2018 rating decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD and a TDIU prior to June 25, 2019 have been dismissed. The appeal for an effective date prior to June 25, 2019 for DEA benefits has also been dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his in-service hazardous noise exposure, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was manifested by hearing acuity of no worse than Level I in the right ear and no worse than Level I in the left ear. Therefore, a compensable evaluation is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for correction of a pre-decisional error regarding effective dates for TDIU and DEA. For the claims of higher ratings for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and major depressive disorder, his current ratings are denied as there is no evidence to support higher evaluations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability that meets the VA criteria for hearing loss.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as the fact that the Veteran did not appeal the initial rating assigned for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for right ear hearing loss was denied as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability. The Veteran's residuals of an aortic dissection are rated at 60 percent, but not higher, due to preclusion of exertion.,For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran's PTSD symptoms more nearly approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas; however, total occupational and social impairment has not been demonstrated. The Veteran is entitled to a separate rating for her chest scar from aortic dissection surgery.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran's preexisting hearing loss did not worsen during his active duty service.

The Veteran's TBI with depressive disorder, along with other service-connected disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 16, 2022. Since then, he is in receipt of a 100% rating for his TBI and additional disabilities independently rated at over 60%, qualifying him for SMC at the housebound rate.