Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as he does not have a current disability that meets VA criteria.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that his current hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, prostate cancer residuals, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and erectile dysfunction, have caused him to be unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's appeal of the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn. The claims for service connection for a left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and asthma have been reopened based on new evidence received since the August 1995 denial. Service connection is granted for degenerative joint disease of the left knee and asthma.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, headaches, or duodenal ulcer. Sinusitis was granted on a presumptive basis, but the Veteran still does not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to January 29, 2019 and thereafter.,The Board also denied service connection for various conditions including bilateral pes planus, left foot hallux valgus, right foot hallux valgus, shoulder disabilities, heart disability, acquired psychiatric disability, upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, knee disability, low back disability, and neurological disabilities. The Veteran's claims were previously denied in 2016 but new evidence was submitted to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, due to herbicide exposure during his Vietnam service, has been granted. The claims for other conditions have been reopened and are being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and separate compensable ratings for left and right upper extremity neuropathy as the Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed as moot due to the Veteran's receipt of a combined 100 percent schedular disability rating and SMC.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide agent exposure. The appeal for TDIU prior to July 7, 2009 is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations. The issues of fibromyalgia, cervical spine disability, diabetes mellitus, low testosterone level, hypertension, and GERD will be addressed.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and left hip disability as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied due to the lack of evidence meeting VA standards for hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions for the service connection claims are inadequate, requiring further remand to obtain additional medical evidence and opinions.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for an undiagnosed illness due to burn pit exposure is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for residuals of a head injury, left elbow disorder, left knee disorder, respiratory disorder, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to additional evidence being added to the claims file.

The Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, heart condition, hypertension, and nose breathing problems have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and heart disorder. The reasons include needing verification of National Guard service periods, additional audiogram reports, and a new VA examination for both hearing loss and heart disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination to assess the severity of his hearing loss and left knee conditions.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claims for back disability, right lower leg sciatica, and digestive disability are remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. The appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, sleep apnea, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder are all considered.