Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to acoustic trauma suffered in service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one must be conducted to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The AOJ will now consider these claims on their merits.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development. Service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's attorney withdrew the claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and an increased rating for right ear hearing loss before a decision was made. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability are granted, but the service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA was reopened due to new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the claims for lower back disability and neck disability due to lack of a nexus opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA will need to obtain additional medical opinions that consider the Veteran's in-service acoustic trauma, his statements about continuous hearing issues since service, and any potential toxic exposure risk activities (TERA).

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss prior to July 1, 2019 is being remanded due to the need for additional development and clarification.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left ear hearing loss as there is no current disability meeting the VA criteria for a hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as audiometric testing does not meet the criteria for a current disability.,The claim of service connection for chronic sinusitis, residuals of TBI, and headache disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss due to the absence of a current disability, and the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss for VA purposes.,The Board has remanded the claim for traumatic brain injury (TBI) as there was insufficient evidence in the August 2018 VA examination regarding the Veteran's service treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and CFS due to potential new evidence and exposure issues. The Veteran's hearing loss is being examined again, his TERA status needs to be evaluated, and a VA examination regarding CFS causation by PTSD will also be conducted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,Further examination is required as the July 2013 VA audiological examination was inadequate.

The claims for service connection for right and left foot plantar fasciitis are granted. The claims for service connection for myofascial pain syndrome, claimed as full body weakness (including joint weakness), right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right elbow disability, left elbow disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, and bilateral hearing loss disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and lack of medical evidence supporting the Veteran's assertions.