Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for the appellant's bilateral hearing loss disability and associated tinnitus, finding an approximate balance of negative and positive evidence as to whether these conditions were caused by events during the appellant's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and PDD are found to be the primary cause of his obstructive sleep apnea, resulting in a grant of a 70% rating for PTSD and PDD as of February 20, 2018. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as Level I, resulting in a zero percent evaluation. The Board found no schedular basis for granting a higher rating.

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

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and service connection were withdrawn by his attorney prior to the Board making a decision.,Service connection was granted for PTSD, LLE peripheral genitofemoral neuropathy, and RLE peripheral genitofemoral neuropathy effective September 24, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to new evidence received since final decisions. The claims are being reopened as new and material evidence has been submitted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus, hearing loss, tinnitus, a foot disorder, heart disorder, and hypertension has been granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a foot disorder, a heart disorder, and hypertension are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea. The decision on bilateral hearing loss is based on a finding that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss as defined by VA standards, and there is no evidence linking his hearing loss to in-service noise exposure or any other in-service event. Service connection was denied because the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's hearing loss and military service. The Board also remanded for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his PTSD.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the claim for a compensable evaluation has been denied.,The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70%, which meets the schedular criteria for TDIU. However, the Board finds that he does not meet the noneconomic component of TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of his obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasoning in previous VA examinations and a need for an addendum opinion considering delayed-onset hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.,For DM, the Board noted there was no in-service diagnosis or incident, and the condition was diagnosed many years after separation. For hypertension, the claim was denied as secondary to DM since DM itself is not service-connected. For bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran's STRs showed normal hearing at entry and separation, and he did not report any significant noise exposure during service.,For tinnitus, the Board found no evidence of in-service onset or connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred during his active military service and continues to this day, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied it. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, mood disorder, and history of alcohol abuse is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Board has remanded the claims for tuberculosis, pain and numbness of the upper extremities, kidney failure, and heart disability (claimed as open-heart surgery) due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, finding that his hearing impairment did not warrant such a rating based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder is found to be the primary cause of his hypothyroidism. The hearing loss claim has been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle condition, left ankle condition, and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing current disabilities or a link between military service and these conditions.,For the right ankle condition and left ankle condition, the appeal is remanded as there is insufficient evidence to establish a current disability.