Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating between October 9, 2018 and September 19, 2019.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his active military service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection, with the latter being secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.,The Board found that new evidence supported readjudicating the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hemorrhoids due to procedural errors. The Veteran's current symptoms are being considered, as well as potential links to herbicide agent exposure during service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and an initial disability rating in excess of a noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was found to be manifested by no more than right ear Level III auditory acuity and left ear Level VI auditory acuity on and prior to June 21, 2023. This warranted a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability has not shown actual, sustained improvement at any time during the appellate period and therefore a rating in excess of 40 percent must be denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his military service and are related to noise exposure from his MOS as a rifleman.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not show it was incurred in or aggravated by service, including due to noise exposure. The Veteran's STRs were silent for any complaints of hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than January 28, 2016, for the award of service connection for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis, right knee osteoarthritis, bilateral hearing loss and GERD have been dismissed.,Effective January 28, 2016, an initial rating of 30 percent for GERD has been granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating.,The Veteran's chronic otitis media, left ear s/p radical mastoidectomy is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating.,The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to pending claims for increased ratings and further development needed. The TDIU issue is inextricably intertwined with these other issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left and right knee conditions, and toxoplasmic chorioretinopathy with macular involvement, cataracts due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his left knee condition and service connection for hearing loss in both ears are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his left ear hearing loss is being remanded as he reported worsening symptoms and there was no right ear hearing loss diagnosed. A new examination is needed, considering his testimony of noise exposure during service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for his right ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new examination and opinion addressing whether it is related to service or within one year post-service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression), left hip disability, right hip disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations considering his lay statements and secondary theories of entitlement.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for his bilateral hip disability is being remanded as there was no current diagnosis found in a previous examination. A new opinion is needed regarding whether it is related to his back condition or aggravated by other conditions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for his bilateral ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations considering his lay statements and secondary theories of entitlement as raised at his hearing.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for his left knee condition is being remanded as there was no current diagnosis found in a previous examination. A new opinion is needed regarding whether it is related to his back condition or aggravated by other conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as presumptive service connected due to exposure to acoustic trauma during active duty. The Board affirms the findings of current diagnoses and finds no intercurrent etiology.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and back condition are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for a psychiatric disorder is remanded as he has not been afforded a VA examination regarding his current diagnoses.,The Veteran's claim for erectile dysfunction/loss of reproductive organ is remanded because it is inextricably intertwined with his service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder.,The Veteran's claim for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded as he has not been afforded a VA examination regarding his current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claims for bronchial asthma and COPD are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for a right shoulder disability is remanded because he has not been afforded a VA examination regarding his current condition.,The Veteran's claims for frostbite left foot, frostbite right foot, chronic mycotic infection bilateral feet, and bilateral foot disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted, but the bilateral hearing loss and PTSD claims are denied.,PTSD was granted for an initial evaluation of 50 percent prior to October 26, 2017, but denied for evaluations in excess of 50 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss was granted with an effective date of August 3, 2016. The Board found that the earliest date entitlement arose was August 3, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection for a suppressed immune system and susceptibility to upper respiratory infection. The initial rating for sinus headaches and the initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss are denied.