Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for left-ear hearing loss and right-ear hearing loss have been granted. Claims for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, low back disorder, and acquired mental disorder (PTSD) are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not related to his active service.,There is no evidence of any in-service injury or event resulting in these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, COPD, and pes planus due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.,Service connection was not granted as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria for hearing loss, no medical opinion linking COPD to service, and no evidence connecting pes planus to service.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding earlier effective date of service connection for tinnitus, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and several hernia and knee disorders due to the Veteran's withdrawal.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left knee strain with degenerative arthritis are granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied, and the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for clarification and additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The appeal is dismissed due to the appellant's death. The Board was notified of the appellant's passing and thus cannot make a decision on the claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence added after the February 2020 Statement of the Case, and the AOJ must consider this evidence before making a decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating prior to March 2, 2020 and a higher rating from March 2, 2020 for bilateral hearing loss. The most probative evidence does not support these claims.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to issues with scheduling examinations and obtaining necessary records. The appeals are now pending again.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives and a need for an addendum VA medical opinion.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,The claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus, type II prior to June 30, 2015, is denied. The Veteran's original claim was received on that date and there were no prior claims filed before then.,The skin condition (claimed as skin cancer) is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its relationship to service exposure to herbicides.,The erectile dysfunction is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its relationship to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II or the Veteran's own service.,Bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its relationship to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal of the claim for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for a back disability.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and psychiatric disorder, claiming PTSD. The decision is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss has been rated as Level I, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year following his separation from active service and is not causally related to his active service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for TBI, migraines, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims are not yet fully informed due to a lack of VA examiner opinions on whether these conditions had their onset in service or are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical nexus opinions and the need for an in-person VA examination of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim, including consideration of his lay statements.

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, left ear hearing loss, and obstructive sleep apnea. The claim for right ear hearing loss is remanded due to lack of current disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus has been withdrawn. The Board has remanded several service connection and rating issues due to the need for additional evidence or examinations.

The rating reduction for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss from a 10 percent rating to a noncompensable rating, effective January 1, 2013, was proper as the initial assignment of a 10 percent rating was clearly erroneous and the RO properly complied with procedural requirements.