Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to correct pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors and obtain the Appellant's National Guard service treatment records. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left knee disability, left carpal tunnel syndrome, low back disability, tinnitus, right shoulder disability, and right knee disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was previously denied, and the Board has determined that there is no new and relevant evidence to readjudicate this claim. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for Raynaud's disease is remanded due to a lack of recent VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear sensorineural hearing loss, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. Service connection for headaches was also denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is service connected. The hearing loss claim is remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is granted. The claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and erectile dysfunction are denied, but the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD prior to February 19, 2020, and his claim for an increased rating for PTSD since that date are both granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran withdrew all issues on appeal, including those related to increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, effective date for DEA benefits, PTSD disability rating, cervical spine disorder service connection, and TDIU mootness.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates due to duty-to-assist errors. The hearing loss claim is granted with a 10% rating from February 9, 2021. The scars claim remains pending. TDIU and DEA claims are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, psychiatric disorders (including PTSD), bilateral cataracts, bilateral glaucoma, and hearing loss were denied. The Veteran's claim for stomach disability was also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a psychiatric disorder other than unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress due to new evidence received since the last decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his heart condition and hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 60 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The Board found that his hearing acuity did not warrant a higher rating based on the audiometric test results.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is granted as service-connected, and a compensable rating of 20 percent for his left ear hearing loss disability is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss with ear disease are remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated noncompensable prior to January 24, 2020 and at a 60 percent rating from that date forward. The Board denied both the request for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has not been received to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, penile dysfunction, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was submitted for the claim of service connection for tinnitus, but not for the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as a result of his competent statements indicating onset during service.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for right ear hearing loss and a schedular disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The Veteran's service connection claims were based on direct evidence.

The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for a TDIU from May 1, 2017 is granted.