Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, maintaining a 40% disability rating since May 15, 2017.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding his service connection claims for allergic rhinitis and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided that the claims of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder need further review due to new evidence received by VA.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, with some issues being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury residuals, Parkinson's disease, and right ear hearing loss due to new evidence received after the last final rating decision. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with these other claims.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and PTSD have been granted service connection, while his allergies were denied. The effective date for the rating of 100% for PTSD is set from December 1, 2017 to August 20, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not have onset during or immediately after service and were not otherwise related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is considered to have started during his active duty, while his left ear hearing loss is linked to noise exposure during his active duty as well. Right ear hearing loss does not meet the VA criteria for a disability.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted a 70 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision. The right ear hearing loss claim remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, sinusitis, and rhinitis are all granted. The claim for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his exposure to hazardous noise during active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives, specifically regarding obtaining a VA medical opinion for bilateral hearing loss.

The claim for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current disability is related to military service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives and a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and consideration, including a new VA examination for tinea pedis, reconsideration of the right ear hearing loss rating, and review of the effective date for dependency benefits. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and school attendance benefits are pending.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 20, 2003 for the Veteran's entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected conditions. The criteria were met as evidenced by the Veteran's inability to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment from this date onwards.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened and granted, while the claims for right ear hearing loss, right knee disability, and right ear tinnitus were denied. The Veteran's service connection for a right thumb injury and right hand radiculopathy was granted.,The Veteran has been awarded ratings for her right thumb injury and right hand radiculopathy, but not for other conditions such as PTSD, hearing loss, or knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and scalp psoriasis, including as due to in-service exposure to an herbicide agent. The Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his active service or any incident of service.