Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. The VA Regional Office should have developed whether the Veteran experienced a disease or injury in relation to his disabilities during any period of active duty, inactive duty training (IDT), or reserve service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his condition began during service or is related to an in-service injury.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating. The Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating based on the current evidence of record.

The Veteran's TDIU and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate are granted effective September 2, 2011. Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance is established from September 2, 2011 to March 23, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to a duplicate docket number.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of an adequate VA examination prior to the rating decision. The AOJ must provide a new VA examination to determine if the disabilities had their onset during ACDUTRA or are related to service.

The appeal of the denial of right ear hearing loss is dismissed. The claim for traumatic arthritis of the right ankle is remanded and readjudicated.

Service connection granted for tinnitus, but denied for bilateral hearing loss, back disability, left lower and right lower extremity sciatica, left upper and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension.,Hearing loss was not shown during service or within one year post-service. Sciatica and peripheral neuropathy were not diagnosed in service or post-service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and back condition were denied. However, the Veteran was granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and MDD.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to her active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate due to his cognitive impairments.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete records. The AOJ must associate all outstanding VA treatment records with the claims file.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the case to consider whether a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is warranted on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claim for right knee total replacement was dismissed as moot because the benefits sought have already been granted.,The Veteran's initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus is denied.,The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates of service connection and compensable evaluations were granted, with the earliest date being July 31, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 30 percent effective March 29, 2022. This rating is based on the severity of his hearing impairment as determined by audiometric testing.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, major depressive disorder, and disability manifested by insomnia due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his pure tone thresholds do not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of January 14, 2019 for the grant of total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The increase in symptoms warranting TDIU occurred on January 14, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, hearing loss, knee replacement, tinnitus, and hypertension, have precluded him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, while his bilateral hearing loss and other conditions are denied. The Board also remanded several issues for further development.