Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran's claims are being returned for an addendum opinion to address his contentions of in-service noise exposure from artillery fire.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for back condition, hearing loss, and tinnitus have been dismissed as the appellant withdrew his appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding the presence of these conditions and their relationship to service. A new VA examination is required.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a headache disorder are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to military noise exposure, while his diabetes is not.

The Veteran's MDD is rated at 70% from June 12, 2020, and meets the criteria for a TDIU.,Bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since November 30, 2009.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for gout due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The remaining issues of service connection for chronic gastrointestinal disability, erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded for further development.

The Board dismissed the appeal of your claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss because you requested to withdraw it.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, and requests an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee condition, right leg condition, and various radiculopathy conditions due to a failure of the duty to assist in providing adequate VA examinations.,The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no objective medical evidence demonstrating hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as non-compensable throughout the appeal period.,The Board is remanding the issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to April 2, 2020 due to conflicting information regarding employment status.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. Service connections for bilateral hearing loss disability, LUE peripheral neuropathy, RUE peripheral neuropathy, LLE peripheral neuropathy, and RLE peripheral neuropathy are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss prior to December 6, 2016 was rated at noncompensable (0%) due to mild hearing impairment in both ears.,Since December 6, 2016, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10% (noncompensable) due to moderate hearing impairment in both ears. The rating is maintained as there is no evidence of exceptional or unusual disability that would warrant an extraschedular evaluation.,The Veteran was not found unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of service-connected disabilities prior to January 19, 2022.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination, including service connection claims for various conditions. The Veteran's claim for refractive error is denied as it is a congenital disorder not subject to service connection. Service connection for tuberculosis exposure is also denied due to lack of current disability. Other claims are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss in the left ear is not service-connected, and remands the case for further development to obtain relevant medical records. The right ear hearing loss claim is also remanded due to its interdependence with the left ear hearing loss claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to noise exposure during his active duty service and resultant acoustic trauma. The Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of adequate VA and private treatment records. The RO is instructed to obtain these records on remand.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is denied as the current 10 percent evaluation is the maximum available.,Service connection for high cholesterol is denied because it does not meet VA compensation criteria.,A TDIU award is granted based on service-connected disabilities preventing substantial gainful employment.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for schizophrenia remains remanded due to potential aggravation of pre-existing conditions.,Claims for higher ratings for right rotator cuff tendonitis, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral knee osteoarthritis are also remanded.,Claims for higher ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonitis, and metatarsalgia remain remanded.,Claims for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), allergic rhinitis, internal hemorrhoids, right colon adenoma, umbilical hernia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and insomnia are all remanded.,The Veteran's claim to reopen a previously denied service connection for a right colon adenoma is also remanded.,Service connection claims for an umbilical hernia secondary to the right colon adenoma and diabetes mellitus remain remanded.,Claims for service connection for heart disability, including hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and insomnia are all remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a current disability, in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury, and a nexus between his claimed conditions and his service.