Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The specific conditions at issue are an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, left knee disability, left hand disability, and liver disorder (claimed as liver transplant).

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for back injury was denied. The decision on the hearing loss claim is based on current evidence not meeting criteria for a higher evaluation, while the back injury claim is denied due to lack of current diagnosis or symptomatology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including kidney stones, tinnitus, high frequency bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral cataracts, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for the period of August 30, 2022, to January 24, 2023.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a generalized anxiety disorder is denied as it is considered part of his service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a 70 percent rating, but no higher. His bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, requiring a new one that addresses the Veteran's medical history regarding the onset of his bilateral hearing loss disability and provides an opinion on whether it is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection as it is related to in-service noise exposure. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates and increased rating for TDIU, DEA benefits, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete service records. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently conceded, but further investigation into his service history and a new VA examination are needed.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to August 27, 2018 and a higher rating for the service-connected bilateral hearing loss (BHL) from August 27, 2018 is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for PTSD and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, gastrointestinal condition (GERD), cervical condition, left shoulder condition, and right shoulder condition are all denied. The Veteran's claim for PTSD is granted.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's tinnitus as it manifested within one year of his separation from active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability.,Service connection was withdrawn for left elbow, lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, while his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) was granted.

The Board has granted readjudication of the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence submitted since the previous denial. The claims are pending further review.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has worsened since the last assigned rating, and he is seeking a higher rating. The VA examination conducted in June 2021 was inadequate due to incomplete explanation of why speech discrimination scores could not be obtained for the left ear.

The Veteran's request for higher-level review of his claims was timely filed. The AOJ must now review the underlying claims and provide a decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, right ear hearing loss, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability are granted. The claims for hypertension and coronary artery disease are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and sleep apnea due to new evidence received since the last denial. The claims are now pending for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a low back disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, erectile dysfunction, sinus disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, bowel disorder, headaches, enlarged prostate disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. The claim for service connection for a skin disability has been remanded.