Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, but a separate 30 percent rating for his vertigo symptoms has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for residuals of prostate cancer was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal. The Board also remanded cases involving service connection for right and left knee disorders, as well as bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was dismissed because no substantive appeal was filed in response to the October 2019 Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss should be remanded to allow for proper procedural steps.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding treatment records and a VA medical opinion regarding his need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are currently rated at the maximum allowed under VA regulations, with no further schedular increases possible.,Hypertension is also currently rated at the maximum allowed under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including obtaining a basic eligibility determination from the Veterans Health Administration regarding the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a dental disability for treatment purposes. The issues of right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are also being remanded due to their potential impact on the dental disability claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and military service.

The Veteran's lung and eye conditions are being reopened due to new evidence. The cases of facial scars and hearing loss with tinnitus remain on appeal.,Further medical examinations are needed for the lungs, eyes, and hearing loss/tinnitus issues.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions: a higher rating for CAD prior to May 16, 2023; a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 30, 2023; and a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss since March 30, 2023. The Board requested additional development of the Veteran's medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected, based on combat stressors during active duty.,Bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. A continuity of symptomatology is not established, and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for tinnitus was withdrawn during his hearing. The Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and denied service connection for right knee, left knee, kidney cancer residuals, varicose veins, neck disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims due to new evidence being added since the last decision, and the appellant is proceeding pro se.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and chronic headache (migraine) due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions. The Board found that there was no current disability, as defined by VA regulations, for either condition. For the headaches, the Board determined that they were not related to active duty exposure or a known clinical diagnosis.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, as well as a higher rating for PTSD. The Veteran's malaria was found to not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of a black widow spider bite, skin disability, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found no current diagnoses for the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and determinations regarding his bilateral hearing loss, back disability, left ankle disability, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left shoulder disability, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.