Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of a left eye disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD has been dismissed.,An earlier effective date of September 29, 2015 has been granted for the 70 percent rating for PTSD.,An earlier effective date of September 29, 2015 has also been granted for TDIU.,Special monthly compensation (SMC) pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) has been granted from November 1, 2018.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service exposure to noise, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for hypertension has been dismissed as the claim was granted in a November 2023 rating decision.,The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at 10% and no higher, based on current symptoms and VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder alone precludes him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and he is granted a TDIU. He also meets the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate due to his other service-connected disabilities. The issue of entitlement to special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connection is established due to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for the back disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability is granted as these conditions are found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,High cholesterol is not considered a disability for VA compensation purposes and thus, the claim for this condition is denied.,The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine disability, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, right ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, right eye disability, and heart disability to obtain medical opinions regarding their etiology.,The Veteran's PTSD remains at a 30 percent rating. The claim for an initial rating higher than 30 percent is remanded as the SOC has not yet been issued.,All other claims are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his combat service and continues since then.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on audiometric testing results.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and other conditions, have prevented him from securing or maintaining gainful employment throughout the appeal period. The Board has granted a TDIU based on his combined disability rating of 90 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, has been granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for low back disability and bilateral knee disability due to missing service treatment records.,The VA examiner did not provide a sufficient rationale based on the available evidence, including the Veteran's in-service duties.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a respiratory condition due to asbestos exposure. The Veteran's military occupational specialty as a gas turbine engine, engine room operator (GSM) is considered sufficient evidence of asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims during a hearing before the Board.,An earlier effective date of July 20, 2012, but no earlier, has been granted for service connection for CAD based on new evidence from in-service records.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability was evaluated as noncompensable (zero percent) since July 2018. The most recent audiometric test in July 2023 showed a level I numeric designation for the right ear, which is consistent with the previous evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and evaluation of his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbar spine, bilateral foot, hearing loss, gastritis, GERD, sleep apnea, headaches, vision impairment, cervicalgia, knee disabilities, hip strains, and ankle strains.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, degenerative disc and joint disease, diabetes mellitus, and brain tumor is remanded due to the need for further development regarding her exposure history.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including reopening of service connection for various conditions and entitlement to service connection. The decision also emphasizes the need to obtain any outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied because there is no evidence of an in-service incurrence or relationship to service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to PTSD, is denied due to lack of evidence establishing the in-service incurrence and nexus elements.