Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss disability, but remanded the tinnitus claim due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and his low back disability is rated at 40 percent. The other conditions are not granted initial ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied, while his claims for bilateral hearing loss and interstitial lung disease were both granted.,Service connection is established for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure. Service connection is also established for interstitial lung disease related to in-service asbestos exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not compensable, as the VA examination revealed no worse than Level IX in the right ear and Level I in the left ear.,There is no confirmed diagnosis of a gallbladder disability. The Veteran's current knee conditions are related to service due to trauma from crawling on his knees.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues related to bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, GERD, and a respiratory condition claimed as breathing problems from ingesting kerosene.

The Veteran's appeals for tinnitus and a right ankle condition were dismissed due to untimely filing of the VA Form 10182.,The Veteran's appeal for a left ankle condition was denied as there is no current disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings in excess of the current 10 percent ratings for bilateral hearing loss, right foot degeneration with arthritic changes, left knee degeneration with limitation of flexion, right knee degeneration with limitation of flexion, left knee degeneration with limitation of extension, right knee osteoarthritis with limitation of extension, and right knee meniscal tear have all been denied. The Veteran's hearing loss is rated at 0 percent due to the exceptional pattern in his right ear. His foot and knee disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent each.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with alcohol abuse is granted a 50 percent rating, reflecting occupational and social impairment.,PTSD has been granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee, right knee, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities must be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain new etiology opinions regarding the onset of these conditions in service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is dismissed. The claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted, but the issue of a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has granted TDIU prior to October 1, 2023, but the case is remanded for extraschedular consideration of TDIU from October 1, 2023.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied, while his right ear hearing loss is granted. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in the left ear and concluded that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a hearing loss disability under VA regulations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no current disability of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to their death.

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

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as it was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability is denied due to the lack of current diagnosis under VA regulation.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is also denied as there is no evidence that his symptoms have caused significant impairment during the relevant period.