Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's low back disability, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, PTSD, and hernia are granted. The Veteran is also granted higher ratings for PTSD and hernia from specific dates. Other conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining audiograms and medical records related to the Veteran's hearing loss and TDIU claims.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple myeloma and right ear hearing loss. The issues of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, penile cancer, and pulmonary fibrosis are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disability, and low back disability have been granted. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, post-traumatic tissue mass of the right midfoot, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, acne rosacea, and tension headaches. Service connection was denied for a right knee disability, arrhythmia, prostatic hypertrophy, and a disability manifested as tingling and numbness in hands, fingers, toes, and forehead.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and irritable bowel syndrome have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the audiometric test results from January 2019.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is related to noise exposure in service and the claim for service connection is granted. The issues of increased evaluation for PTSD and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a heart disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's STRs are unavailable, but she was exposed to acoustic trauma in service. A VA examination is needed to determine if her current hearing loss and coronary artery disease are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for a new VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing current disability.,The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for cervical strain with cervical spine degenerative disc disease, as the VA examination report did not adequately address functional impairment during flare-ups and repetitive use over time.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of available service records, requiring an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability but has remanded the issue of service connection for a RIGHT foot condition, to include hallux valgus of the 1st and 2nd toes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability has been reopened, but the evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The VA examination results showed no hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the adequacy of the January 2022 VA examination report. The examiner did not address whether the October 1968 audiometric findings indicated hearing loss during service, nor did they discuss threshold shifts from entrance to separation.

The Board has remanded the claims for hearing loss and dental trauma and facial pain due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, which may relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, specifically addressing the June 1978 service treatment record that noted tympanic membrane bubbles in both ears.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of hypertension which is granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act. An effective date of October 15, 2017 has been assigned for the TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including chronic diarrhea, status post left hand surgery disorder, a back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims were not supported by new and material evidence.