Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent from January 27, 2016, to December 20, 2018. From December 21, 2018, the rating increased to 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for status post coronary artery bypass grafting and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of the current assigned disability ratings under both pre-amendment and post-amendment VA rating criteria.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability for VA purposes.,For the left inguinal hernia, a noncompensable rating has been granted prior to June 14, 2023. A rating in excess of 10% is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted effective November 4, 1999. He is currently assigned a 10% rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that a higher rating was not warranted based on the evidence of record.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral foot pes planus has been reopened and granted. The claims for left ankle disability, right ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, and sinus condition are still pending and need further review.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 100 percent, effective December 26, 2023. A TDIU rating is granted for service-connected disabilities on a schedular basis but denied on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's bilateral diabetic retinopathy is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted due to exposure to acoustic trauma during active service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for spermatic cysts and seminal vesicles condition, left foot blisters, gallbladder disability, generalized arthritis of the joints, gingivitis, left hip/groin pain, right hip/groin pain, inguinal abdominal pain, bilateral hearing loss (right ear), and left ear hearing loss have been granted. The remaining claims for service connection are being remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence received since previous decisions supports these claims. The conditions are considered to have manifested during service with continuity of symptoms thereafter.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is related to in-service noise exposure and meeting the criteria for a disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been granted. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have also been granted.,The reopened claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is remanded due to the submission of new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for SMC at the housebound rate was denied as he does not have a single service-connected disability rated 100% and an additional disability or disabilities independently ratable at 60%. The Board found that his TDIU granted due to multiple service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for SMC based on housebound status.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's left eye conjunctivitis is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has dismissed all appeals regarding service connection for various conditions as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone did not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or permanently housebound, thus SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status due to service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain is rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds that a higher initial rating of 40 percent is warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to active duty service.