Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted. The decision on the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is based on new evidence submitted since a previous final denial, which relates to the basis for the previous denial and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has also been granted due to obesity related to service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected due to exposure to hazardous noise during military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service onset or causation.

Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,The claims of reopening the previously denied left knee and back conditions have been granted.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were received within one year of his retirement and remained pending until they were adjudicated in an August 2015 rating decision. The effective dates for the awards of service connection are set at July 1, 1995.

The Veteran's claim to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, as well as bilateral hearing loss, has been granted. The issues of service connection for a mid-back scar associated with lipoma removal, bilateral foot condition, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, warranting a 30 percent rating.,There is no evidence of frostbite or its residuals during service or post-service. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for hearing loss for VA purposes.,The Board remanded the claim for service connection for back condition due to insufficient medical opinion regarding etiology.,TDIU was also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the back disability issue.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for updated VA records and a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including unspecified anxiety disorder and unspecified depressive disorder. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus remain denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's symptoms of decreased hearing acuity after separation from service are consistent with his in-service exposure to acoustic trauma and his diagnosis of right ear hearing loss during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all issues except eye problems, tinnitus, and stomach problems (undiagnosed or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom Gulf War illness) has been dismissed. The claim of service connection for left wrist disability, right wrist disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, back disability, and psychiatric disability (including PTSD) is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the cases of left ear hearing loss disability and left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and right ear hearing loss are granted as service connected.,Residuals of traumatic brain injury disability is rated at 10 percent from July 26, 2017 to September 16, 2022.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 1, 2016 was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. From March 1, 2016 onwards, he is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an updated VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, but has remanded his claim for hearing loss due to a lack of audiogram evidence and an incorrect legal standard in the previous VA examination.