Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, but his bilateral hearing loss claim is denied.

The Veteran's right hip arthroplasty is granted with a rating of 50 percent, effective August 3, 2021. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim remains denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, including Meniere's syndrome, and for bilateral tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature of the Veteran's ear condition and its relationship to active military service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of adequate VA opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of September 30, 2008 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).,The Veteran is also granted an effective date of September 30, 2008 for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is etiologically related to his active duty service and conceded in-service noise exposure, granting his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claims are now pending on their merits.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted, but the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to report for VA examinations. The issues of service connection for various disabilities are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for a psychiatric disability and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim for these conditions is currently pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

Service connection for arthritis of the right and left knees has been granted.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right eye disorder, and bilateral hearing loss have not been established.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability. The case will be returned to the RO for further review and consideration of this new evidence.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to sleep apnea and sarcoidosis is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The case is being sent back for a new examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his hearing loss disabilities due to insufficient medical evidence addressing direct, secondary, or aggravation service connection. The Veteran is also requested to undergo a VA audiology examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inextricably intertwined issues and inadequate opinions. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, thyroid cancer, hypothyroidism, left knee condition, and right knee condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service exposure to hazardous noise.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not rated as compensable, but service connection for left and right knee disabilities has been granted.,Service connection was established for the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities based on continuity of symptomatology since active duty.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss is considered to be related to noise exposure during his active duty service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.