Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for a VA audiological examination to determine if any current bilateral hearing loss is related to service, including noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been reopened, but the claims are still pending as new evidence did not establish a nexus to service. The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to insufficient information provided on her VA Form 21-8940.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete records and need for updated VA examinations.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back DDD and granted it. The claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current disability for service connection of bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is service-connected as it originated during active service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for service-connected left ear mastoidectomy residuals with hearing loss is remanded due to the need for updated medical records and examinations. The Veteran also has issues regarding secondary service connection for sleep and/or psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to lack of in-service stressors for PTSD and insufficient evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a respiratory condition (chronic bronchitis/COPD) was granted. The claim for service connection for headaches is pending.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits claims are granted from July 16, 2010 to October 11, 2016. The SMC based on aid and attendance claim is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was found to be at a non-compensable level prior to October 19, 2022 and at a compensable level from that date forward. The appeal for increased ratings is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new opinion regarding the etiology of his hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 0 percent, the minimum rating available.,The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's hearing acuity did not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent.

The Board granted service connection for asthma with an effective date of August 15, 2013. Service connection was also granted for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, but the specific effective dates are not provided as they were not addressed in this decision. The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is characterized by occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, irritability, chronic sleep impairment, and difficulty establishing work relationships.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated at 10 percent since September 2023. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating, as his hearing impairment was no worse than Level IV in both ears.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss is dismissed because the VA Form 10182 was not timely filed, and good cause has not been shown.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has granted a rating of 10 percent for hypertension and denied entitlement to a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss. The decision is based on the Veteran's history of hypertension and his service-connected left ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus and entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The AOJ is required to obtain an in-person examination of the Veteran for tinnitus, determine the date of onset and functional impact, and request the audiology exam results from St. John's Hospital.