Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected GERD is granted, and he receives a 50% rating for his tension headaches. His hearing loss claim is denied, and the skin disability issue remains pending with an increased rating sought.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are etiologically related to his military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for the claims of a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative thoracolumbar spine, a 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, a 10 percent for right shoulder anterior cruciate degenerative joint disease, and a 10 percent for a sinus condition. The appeal is also dismissed for service connection claims including bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, right hip arthralgia, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity, obstructive sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as adjustment disorder and PTSD).

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active duty service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and psoriasis is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and retinopathy and maculopathy as secondary to his service-connected chronic sinusitis.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to service connection for various conditions due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete records of his reserve service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The decision on bilateral hearing loss remains pending and remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to incomplete service treatment records, specifically a file titled 'STR - Reserve STR' that cannot be accessed or viewed in Caseflow.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of a TBI are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to January 27, 2020, for service connection of TBI with vertigo and associated disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss in the left ear was granted. However, his claim for hearing loss in the right ear was denied.,The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder received an initial rating of 70 percent, but no higher.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and the Board dismissed the case.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied as there is no legal basis for such.,Service connection for gum disease was denied because it does not constitute a compensable disability for VA compensation purposes.,Claims for total disability ratings due to hospital treatment or observation and convalescence have been denied due to lack of evidence supporting the required periods of hospitalization or convalescence.,Spousal aid and attendance prior to October 22, 2018 was denied as there is no evidence that the Veteran's ex-spouse needed regular aid and attendance.,Service connection for peripheral vestibular disease (PVD) has been remanded due to a conclusory opinion from the VA examiner.,Claims for bilateral hearing loss have been remanded as the Veteran alleges worsening since his last examination in October 2017.,Claims for various ankle, elbow, hip, knee, and shoulder conditions have all been remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the most persuasive evidence does not support a link between these conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been granted. The decision is effective from the date of the July 2015 denial.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the persuasive weight of the evidence is against a finding that current hearing loss or tinnitus are related to active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, neck disability, low back disability, right hip disability, heart disability, and residuals of strokes are remanded for additional development.