Hearing loss — all decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a finding of a causal relationship between the claimed conditions and active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss based on the mechanical application of the diagnostic criteria to the evidence.

The Board denied service connection for chronic sinusitis, fibromyalgia, left and right ear hearing loss, and gastroenteritis, but granted service connection for migraine headaches. The claims for an initial evaluation higher than 30 percent for chronic sinusitis and 20 percent for fibromyalgia were also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, as well as remanded certain issues.

The Board denied a staged rating higher than 70 percent for bilateral hearing loss from September 4, 2024 to November 19, 2024, and a rating higher than 50 percent thereafter.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, a left elbow disability (claimed as osteoarthritis), and a higher rating for lumbosacral strain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between the current disability and his active service.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the low back disability, denied an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, granted a separate 10 percent rating for left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The appeal for service connection for hypertension is dismissed as the claim has been fully granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, back disability, fatigue, and acquired psychiatric disability are remanded for further development.

The appeal for initial ratings in excess of 10% for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as the appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50% for unspecified anxiety disorder with insomnia, were dismissed due to untimely notice of disagreement. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, right fifth metacarpal disability, and chronic headaches.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a need for an addendum VA opinion and proper notice of the right to a hearing.

The appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was dismissed due to the untimely filing of a Notice of Disagreement.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(o) and (r)(1) based on his need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the award of a 100 percent rating for PTSD and major depressive disorder, an earlier effective date for TDIU due to service-connected conditions, and a compensable rating for hypertension. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and coronary artery disease were remanded.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) but denied an earlier effective date for the increased rating of 70 percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and hepatitis C as there was no evidence of functional impairment sufficient to warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected obstructive sleep apnea and granted service connection for lumbar discogenic pain with right radiculopathy, left thumb injury residuals, bilateral hand tremors, chronic rhinitis (presumptively), and chronic sinusitis.,The Veteran's lumbar discogenic pain with right radiculopathy is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to noise exposure during his active duty service.