Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected. The issue of secondary service connection for balance issues including vertigo and dizziness to include as secondary to bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding service connection for a head injury, hearing loss, tinnitus, plantar fasciitis, and an increased rating for PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new medical opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is directly related to active military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss disability are granted service connection, while his right ear hearing loss disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence received after the April 2019 rating decision. The Veteran's testimony at his August 2023 hearing is considered in determining whether there is a link between current symptoms and service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right lower extremity neuropathy, left leg disability, and left shoulder disability have all been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions or a causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable (0 percent), and the Board finds that his current audiometric results do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Board has denied a compensable initial rating for right ear hearing loss and has remanded the service connection claim for left ear hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between current disabilities and active duty service.,New evidence submitted by the Appellant did not change the outcome as the medical opinions still concluded that her hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss disability did not permanently increase in severity during service and is unrelated to military noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for an effective date prior to March 17, 2021 for service connection and rating of psychiatric disability and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran needs to provide evidence that he submitted a complete application before March 17, 2021 and VA treatment records from Dr. Cobb.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of a direct relationship to service. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.,The Veteran was provided with a VA examination for PTSD in July 2022, but the examiner did not diagnose PTSD based on DSM-5 criteria.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased disability ratings and earlier effective dates for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as the service connection claim for metastatic lung cancer. The Veteran's death precludes further action on these claims.

The Veteran's VA disability compensation benefits were reduced due to his felony incarceration, which was proper as he was incarcerated for more than 61 days and received his first payment on October 1, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as his hearing loss issues. The AOJ will consider any additional evidence submitted during the remand process.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring another VA examination for bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his loud noise exposure during active military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional records from correctional facilities where the Veteran served.