Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not incurred during his service in Desert Storm, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability was denied. The claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, left knee, and right knee disabilities were also denied. The issues regarding effective dates for left ankle sprains and tympanic membrane tympanosclerosis (right and left) were dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his service connection claim for low back disability was also denied. The decision does not specify an effective date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right ankle sprain as they were already denied in a previous May 2023 decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, depression, and headaches, render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded for further evaluation and consideration due to a lack of recent examination and treatment records.

Service connection for hypertension is granted, presumed due to exposure to herbicide agents during service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied as the evidence does not meet VA's definition of 'hearing impairment' for compensation purposes.,Service connection for brain lesion is denied as there is no reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim with the requisite degree of probability that it was caused by presumptive exposure to Agent Orange or otherwise related to service.,A rating of 100 percent (total disability due to individual unemployability) for PTSD is granted, based on total social and occupational impairment.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records from his Marine Corps Reserve service and to provide an adequate opinion regarding the etiology of his hearing loss. The claim for muscle and joint pain and fatigue, including Lyme disease, psoriatic arthritis, and fibromyalgia, will also be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the claim for a compensable rating is denied.,Service connection has been granted for bilateral pes planus disorder. The condition preexisted service but increased in severity during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The case is remanded for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims, including a rating in excess of 10 percent for a closed fracture of the left medial malleolus with surgical scar, an earlier effective date for the grant of a 10 percent rating for a closed fracture of the left medial malleolus with surgical scar, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for emphysema, and total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to May 29, 2015.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination. The Veteran's claim for hearing loss is reopened, but service connection remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The issues include reopening claims for service connection for various conditions and seeking higher disability ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as other conditions were denied. The Veteran was granted increased ratings for his PTSD and right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine injury residuals, lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity varicose veins, left lower extremity varicose veins, bronchitis, and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete service treatment records from the Veteran's National Guard and Reserve periods of service. The claims will be readjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions and records. The appeal is not about service connection at all.