Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to new and material evidence having been submitted, necessitating further development. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, an esophageal condition, neurological impairment of the left lower extremity, neurological impairment of the right lower extremity, low back strain, left knee iliotibial band syndrome, and right knee iliotibial band syndrome are all remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an earlier effective date for tinnitus. The decision found that there was no evidence of a diagnosed disability for VA purposes, and thus denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. For tinnitus, the Board determined that the Veteran did not file a claim prior to July 20, 2018.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's disabilities. The claims are not currently decided.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete etiology opinions regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has not manifested by worse than Level III hearing in both ears, and therefore the criteria for a compensable rating have not been met.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD, which has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since June 14, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, skin/skin rash disorder, diabetes mellitus II, heart disease, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA medical records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder, but denied service connection for sleep apnea. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA hearing loss examinations and a need for another examination with a different examiner.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, COPD, OSA secondary to PTSD, and other disabilities have been granted. The appeal is not about service connection for exposure-related conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on all listed conditions have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the relationship between current bilateral hearing loss and service, specifically addressing conductive hearing loss from a lightning strike in March 1972. The decision also acknowledges a potential error regarding the presumption of noise exposure link to hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his in-service acoustic trauma. The mental condition claim was also granted.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 23, 2021, for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as service connected. The heart disability issue is remanded for further action.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, finding that the evidence did not show a chronic disease in service or continuous symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative meniscal pathology is granted as service connected. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are denied as not related to service.

Service connection was denied for various conditions including bilateral hearing loss, left and right knee disorders, psoriatic arthritis, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), torn scapula nerves in both upper extremities, neck disorder, low back disorder, and deviated septum.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral chronic otitis media and bilateral hearing loss due to the condition. The decision is based on evidence showing that these conditions began during active service.

The Veteran's hypertension was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,Service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and back disability were all denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.