Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to be at worst Level II in both ears, which corresponds to a noncompensable (0%) rating. The Board denied the claim for a compensable rating.

The Board has vacated its decision denying a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and dismissed the claim due to the Veteran's opt-in into the Appeals Modernization Act system.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating has been assigned.,The Veteran's claims for PTSD, lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (right knee disability), left ankle sprain, and ingrown right great toenail are remanded due to insufficient evidence of a current disability or service connection.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is also remanded as the opinion provided by the VA examiner was inadequate.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service, granting service connection for these conditions.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's headaches. The Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine if his current hand/wrist disabilities are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes, and thus denied his claim of entitlement to service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, left ankle condition, dry eyes syndrome, and back condition.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, Persistent Depressive Disorder, and Anxiety Disorder).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss of the right ear, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between his current hearing loss and his military service. The weight of the medical evidence does not support a link between his in-service noise exposure and his post-service hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was initially rated as noncompensable prior to June 3, 2022, and increased to 30 percent effective June 3, 2022.,For the lumbar spine disability, a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to May 25, 2022 was denied. Effective May 25, 2022, a rating in excess of 40 percent is also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection, while his lichen simplex chronicus is granted a noncompensable initial rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for migraine headaches is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is in approximate balance as to whether current migraines are related to service, and thus grants service connection on a direct basis.

The Veteran's hypertension, tinnitus, and diabetes mellitus have been granted service connection. However, the initial compensable rating for hypertension has been denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a sinus disorder is denied due to lack of evidence meeting VA criteria for these conditions during or approximate to the appeal period.,The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have begun during service and has been continuous since then, granting service connection. Service connection for diabetes mellitus is also granted.,Service connection for bilateral eye disorder, sleep disorder (including insomnia and sleep apnea), headache disorder, thyroid disorder, and respiratory disorder remains pending as remanded by the Board.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of a disability for VA purposes.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a back disorder. The claims for service connection for other conditions are being remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to a withdrawal by the appellant's representative.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating, as his symptoms were consistent with a 70% disability rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability claims are denied. The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development, including obtaining retrospective medical opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's left knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or since separation from active duty. The Board also found that the current hearing loss did not manifest until approximately 17 years after separation.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, as there is a reasonable possibility that he may be unemployable by reason of his service-connected conditions. The TDIU issue will now be referred to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.