Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has decided that service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of tinnitus and earlier effective dates for both tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed. The appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete audiometric test results and a need for a VA examiner's interpretation of graphical test results. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is being reviewed again.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 4, 2018 for tinnitus was denied. The earliest possible effective date is January 4, 2018.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his claims of service connection for a prostate condition and bilateral hearing loss were granted. His PFB claim remains remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable prior to October 25, 2015 and at a 10 percent rating thereafter. The claim for service connection for residuals of a mouth abscess was denied.,The Veteran's current dental condition is not considered a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, these claims are still pending as they were remanded by the Board.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus must be remanded due to a lack of VA treatment records from before December 21, 2009. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant VA treatment records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, indicating he no longer wished to pursue the claims for service connection or rating increases. The Board has dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for sleep apnea, asthma, left ear hearing loss, and TDIU prior to March 7, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The lung and liver disability claims are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The AOJ is instructed to confirm the Veteran's National Guard service dates, obtain pay records, and provide an addendum medical opinion.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection of a heart disability and headaches, but has remanded the cases due to outstanding evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral flatfoot, left shin splints, and right shin splints due to incomplete service treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, left foot hammer toes, and right foot hammer toes have all been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection as his conditions were either not present during service or not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim for referral to the Director of Compensation Service due to insufficient discussion in the June 2021 decision regarding his service-connected disabilities and their impact on employment.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, prostate cancer, and chronic myeloid leukemia due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection. Additional development is needed including obtaining deck logs from ships the Veteran served on, verifying herbicide exposure, and requesting VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is being remanded due to new evidence received since the last denial. The left ear hearing loss rating claim is also being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss did not worsen during his military service and was noted at entry but improved by separation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began during his time in service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no persuasive evidence to support a nexus between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, TMJ disability, back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability have been granted. The decision also denied service connection for these conditions.