Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to hazardous noise exposure during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with the most recent VA examination showing Level I hearing in both ears.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has granted effective dates of July 1, 2016 for the service connection of tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, linear scar from hernia surgery, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression, migraine headaches, epididymitis, and residual scar from hernia operation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination opinions. The VA examiner was asked to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service, specifically hazardous noise exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with no worse than Level I in both ears.,For the period prior to January 14, 2020, the right knee disability was evaluated at a noncompensable rating. Beginning January 14, 2020, it has been rated at 60 percent for chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness.,The left knee strain disability is currently rated as noncompensable.,Right knee instability is currently rated at 10 percent prior to January 14, 2020. Left knee instability is granted at a separate 10 percent evaluation.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) and left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded. Service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is also remanded. The issue of TDIU has been included in the appeal.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding entitlement to a compensable rating for migraine headaches, service connection for a sleep disorder, radiating pain in the right lower extremity, sinusitis, lumbar spine disorder, ganglion cyst of the left foot, depression, left foot bone sprain, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The appeals are dismissed due to improper use of an outdated appeal form.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to missing audiometric test results from 2015 and 2017.

The Veteran's right ear hearing was found to be at Level III, resulting in a non-compensable rating for his service-connected right ear hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination, and further evaluation is needed to determine if the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral hearing loss had its onset during active service or is related to any incident of service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for TBI has also been denied, with the Board finding that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, including pes planus, bilateral ankle and knee disabilities, left shoulder disability, right hand scar, and bilateral hearing loss. The combined rating of these conditions exceeds the schedular requirement for a TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as there was no new and relevant evidence received subsequent to the February 2018 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal of his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed because he withdrew the issue from appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with dissociative symptoms and persistent depressive disorder was also denied due to the lack of total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA audiological examination for bilateral hearing loss, and a new examination is needed to determine the current severity of the disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 30 percent since February 22, 2022. The appeal was granted for a TDIU beginning on that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence from the Iowa National Guard.