Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral redness of the eyes, bilateral vision loss, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus have been dismissed due to a withdrawal by the Veteran. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The reduction of the 10% rating for bilateral hearing loss was upheld, but restoration of the 10% rating is denied. The claim for an increased rating for back disability prior to October 8, 2019 is denied. A 20% rating is granted effective October 8, 2019, and a higher rating is denied from that date onward.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his symptoms and medical history.

The Board has decided that service connection for bilateral knees and hearing loss is denied. The case is being remanded to provide a new examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral knee disability, and back disability are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain missing service treatment records and VA treatment records, as well as to schedule the Veteran for a psychiatric examination.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of a current disability. Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on the Veteran's credible testimony that he experienced symptoms during service and they have persisted since.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has not been shown to warrant a compensable rating prior to October 27, 2023, or a rating in excess of 10 percent on and thereafter.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but denied service connection for PTSD. Bilateral hearing loss is considered a disability due to in-service noise exposure, while the VA examiners found no current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from July 14, 2016 to December 20, 2016 due to his service-connected psychiatric and heart disabilities. Prior to this period, the criteria for a TDIU were not met as he could still secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as evidenced by his retirement due to age rather than disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left ear hearing loss, finding that there is no current disability meeting VA criteria for compensation purposes. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between in-service noise exposure and the current hearing loss conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss disability due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no persuasive evidence of current bilateral hearing loss during the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that his current hearing loss was related to in-service noise exposure from working on aircraft carriers.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that he does not have a current disability and that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded his TDIU claim due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss in either ear for VA purposes.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis have also been denied, as the evidence does not show that his symptoms are more limiting than contemplated by the current 20% ratings.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU has been remanded due to inadequate notice and development.

The Board has decided that the claims for increased rating for hearing loss and service connection for bilateral knee injury need to be reviewed by the AOJ with consideration of all relevant evidence, including recent medical records.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, while his gout, right foot, vision loss, bilateral hearing loss, and high cholesterol are denied.