Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection, as it is related to his in-service noise exposure.,His left ear hearing loss remains denied, with the Board finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or causal relationship.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating and earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The VA audiology evaluation in February 2020 showed Level I hearing acuity in the right ear and Level II in the left ear, resulting in no compensable rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as not related to service.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was remanded for further examination.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and asthma but granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The issue of pseudofolliculitis barbae is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD with sleep impairment is rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 9411.,The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 10 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted effective dates of February 18, 2020 for the grants of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a psychiatric disability. These awards are based on an intent to file received on February 18, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied, while her claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and tinnitus as well as the appeal for an increased rating for tinea pedis due to untimely filings.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records and outstanding SSA records. The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to December 12, 2023 is pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to new evidence and issues related to service connection, rating, and TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasons and bases for denying the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid attendance/housebound status. Further development is needed to distinguish between service-connected conditions and non-service-connected conditions that affect the Veteran's ability to perform self-care functions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, so the appeals for these conditions are dismissed as there is no remaining issue to decide.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and bilateral hearing loss prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to October 26, 2020. Beginning October 26, 2020, the claim for TDIU is moot as he already has a 100% disability rating due to prostate cancer.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's prostate disability and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his hearing loss, back disability, TBI residuals, and neck disability. The Board finds that the current evidence does not provide sufficient information to determine if there has been a change in the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was manifested by hearing acuity of no worse than Level II in the right ear and Level III in the left ear prior to June 29, 2021. The Board denied a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of the required current disability, defined by specific audiometric test results and speech recognition scores in 38 C.F.R. § 3.385.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but remanded the claim for tinnitus due to conflicting medical opinions and need for further development.

The Board has determined that additional relevant VA treatment records should be obtained and considered as part of the remand process. The Veteran is advised to provide any private or federal medical records in their possession.