Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board dismissed the issue of service connection for kidney stones. Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the disabilities and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions regarding his hearing loss disability of the right ear and disabilities of both shoulders. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant records, including personnel and service treatment records, and arrange for new medical opinions on the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss prior to May 3, 2021 and denied service connection for sleep disturbances. The most probative evidence of record did not support the presence of separate disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder disability and denied service connection for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus caused permanent nerve damage to the inner ear, leading to current bilateral hearing loss. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service acoustic trauma, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, and the Board denied a higher rating based on the current evidence of record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his hearing loss was not incurred in service and is unrelated to noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining complete service treatment records and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and current level of severity of his left ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition had its onset during his military service and is related to exposure to loud noise in Vietnam.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. His right wrist condition, which has resulted in extremely unfavorable ankylosis and post-traumatic arthritis, is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 70 percent.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. However, both claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back pain, hearing loss, and tinnitus, have prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment since September 4, 2014. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current disabilities did not begin during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are rated based on their severity, with the maximum rating for tinnitus being 10 percent. The Board has remanded cases regarding Meniere's disease (secondary to tinnitus) and TBI (secondary to PTSD with major depression).

The Board has determined that the August 2017 VA audio examination is inadequate and a new opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss is related to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as VA was required to withhold disability compensation benefits to offset a Federal Tort Claims Act settlement, and there is no legal remedy for hardship.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his active service, granting entitlement to service connection.

The claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, low back condition, lower extremity radiculopathy, otitis, and hiatal hernia were denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,New evidence received since the previous decisions related to sleep apnea, rhinitis, and sinusitis has been found material as it supports a link between these conditions and service.