Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, diaphragmatic hernia, and personality disorder have been withdrawn. The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been granted, but the claims for headaches (claimed as migraines) and a left eye condition (claimed as ischemia behind the left eye) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to the competency and qualifications of the VA examining audiologists, as well as concerns about the results of the August 2018 VA examination. Additional development is needed to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected intervertebral disc degeneration due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be afforded another opportunity for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, plantar fasciitis, psoriasis, dry eye syndrome, hypertension, and psoriatic arthritis. The appeals encompass multiple issues related to service connection.

The Board granted service connection for gout and denied it for bilateral hearing loss, while remanding the claims for left temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), obstructive sleep apnea, Barrett's esophagus, and sinusitis.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for an increased rating of tension headaches has also been granted, with a 30 percent disability rating.,Service connection for the lumbar spine disability remains pending as it is not addressed in this decision.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, residuals of head trauma (claimed as traumatic brain injury), headaches, memory loss, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Barrett's esophagus, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine disability and hearing loss, prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. As such, a TDIU is granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various shoulder and knee conditions, increased ratings for knee disabilities, and an effective date for hearing loss. Additional evidence was added since the last rating decision but not considered by the AOJ.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 20 percent from December 5, 2017 to February 22, 2019. The higher ratings were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for such ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and denied them. Service connection was also denied for a bilateral eye disability. Increased ratings were denied for allergic rhinitis, hypertension, osteoarthritis and traumatic arthritis of the right knee, hallux valgus of the right foot, and hallux valgus of the left foot.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for a low back disability, left knee contusion residuals, and a chronic eye disability (teary eyes, vision condition). The claim for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability remains pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 10 percent since September 29, 2006. The Veteran contends for an increased rating, which the Board finds to be remanded due to further development being necessary.

The Board has granted an extraschedular total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from April 22, 2014 to March 18, 2022 due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work history.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was received on April 1, 2016. The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date as the evidence does not support that the Veteran previously made or understood his August 30, 1957 claim to include a claim for hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided are inadequate for adjudicating the Veteran's claims. Therefore, the cases must be remanded to obtain updated medical evidence and an adequate opinion.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 31, 2019 and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent from that date.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to non-compliance with prior Board directives.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings are not granted, and they have been remanded to obtain additional medical evidence.