Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for bilateral hearing loss are remanded. The Veteran is also requested to provide evidence of toxic exposure risk activities in service, as the PACT Act requires a medical opinion on the likelihood of a nexus between his conditions and such exposures.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim of back disability, and the neck, arm, lower extremity, and hearing loss disabilities are not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent has been assigned. The Board finds no legal basis to grant a higher evaluation. For the compensable hearing loss, the Veteran's claim is remanded due to lack of recent VA examination.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding private treatment records and VA treatment records that need to be obtained, as well as a VA examination for the Veteran's hearing loss, skin disorder, GERD, and hiatal hernia. The claims for service connection will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as abdominal pain with hiatal hernia and ulcer symptoms, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.,Service connection is also being remanded for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of auditory damage in service and insufficient medical opinion to establish a nexus between current right ear hearing loss and military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, both for treatment purposes only under Title 38, Chapter 17, of the United States Code.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, PTSD, and other issues related to his TBI was granted. The Veteran received a new noncompensable disability rating for tension headaches associated with encephalopathy due to brain trauma, but the skull defect and left hemiparesis remain rated at 50% and 30%, respectively. A separate noncompensable disability rating was assigned for his bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's TDIU claim from May 17, 2016 is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, as well as obtaining relevant medical records.

The Veteran's ED is found to be caused by a service-connected disability, and the claim for service connection for ED is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of consideration of private treatment records and for obtaining an audiological evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not interfere with his normal employability, and he is already receiving a compensable rating for PTSD. Therefore, the claim for a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Board has decided that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The case is being remanded due to additional records needed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records. The Board also found that a new examination is needed in several cases.

The Veteran's tinnitus, chronic exertional compartment syndrome of the right and left lower extremities, and pseudofolliculitis barbae have been granted service connection. Obesity and a left ear hearing loss disability have not been granted service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss as it did not meet the criteria of a disability for VA purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

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

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to November 30, 2017, for the awards of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and lumbar strain are denied. The Board finds that remand is necessary due to lack of supporting evidence.