Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and a right knee disability, but has remanded the issue of left ear hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective from November 3, 2022. The claim for an extraschedular evaluation remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a link between current hearing loss and active duty.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the rating for bilateral hearing loss, so the case is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as the evidence did not show these conditions were incurred in or related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and a need for further evaluation of the Veteran's hearing loss disability.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus must be remanded due to a pre-decisional error in scheduling an examination. The Veteran provided good cause for missing his scheduled examinations, and a new VA examination is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from July 12, 2017. The rating for bilateral hearing loss remains at 30 percent since June 8, 2016. Effective July 12, 2017, TDIU and DEA benefits are granted.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) due to being housebound was denied because he does not meet the criteria for SMC Housebound, as his disabilities do not satisfy the requirements of a single 100% service-connected disability and additional disabilities independently ratable at 60% or more.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction was withdrawn by the Veteran at his August 2023 Board hearing.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The Veteran testified that he had to turn up the volume on his television and ask his wife to repeat herself, indicating functional impairment.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied because there is no evidence of a current disability prior to the filing of the claim.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of ovarian cysts for additional development. The Veteran's claims are not granted as there is no evidence of service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is denied as the earliest possible effective date is November 17, 2022.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA examination and missing service personnel records, which could affect the determination of whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete service treatment records, specifically a missing separation examination. The RO must obtain this record and provide addendum opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and sinusitis as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions, with the exception of a confirmed diagnosis of allergic rhinitis/chronic sinusitis in one private evaluation. The Veteran's symptoms were attributed to her service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for bilateral hearing loss and dysthymic disorder, leading to the dismissal of these issues.