Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for hearing loss is dismissed as the Board lacks jurisdiction.,The Veteran's petition to readjudicate her claim of service connection for headaches is also dismissed due to a jurisdictional defect.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus to include as secondary to hearing loss, pharyngitis, sinus disability, and psychiatric disability due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.,The Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is not shown at any time during or proximate to the appeal period.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the claims for prostate cancer, hearing loss, and left wrist fracture before a decision was made.

An effective date of November 5, 2007 is granted for the award of service connection for tinnitus. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection for right knee strain is granted, and his left knee condition is rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the Veteran's right knee strain was related to his military service, while his left knee condition had a limitation of flexion measured to 62 degrees.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of bilateral hearing loss and PTSD are being remanded due to procedural issues. The effective date for the reduction from a 70% to a 50% rating for PTSD is also under review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to hazardous noise exposure during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with the most recent VA examination showing Level I hearing in both ears.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has granted effective dates of July 1, 2016 for the service connection of tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, linear scar from hernia surgery, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression, migraine headaches, epididymitis, and residual scar from hernia operation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination opinions. The VA examiner was asked to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service, specifically hazardous noise exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with no worse than Level I in both ears.,For the period prior to January 14, 2020, the right knee disability was evaluated at a noncompensable rating. Beginning January 14, 2020, it has been rated at 60 percent for chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness.,The left knee strain disability is currently rated as noncompensable.,Right knee instability is currently rated at 10 percent prior to January 14, 2020. Left knee instability is granted at a separate 10 percent evaluation.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) and left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded. Service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is also remanded. The issue of TDIU has been included in the appeal.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding entitlement to a compensable rating for migraine headaches, service connection for a sleep disorder, radiating pain in the right lower extremity, sinusitis, lumbar spine disorder, ganglion cyst of the left foot, depression, left foot bone sprain, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The appeals are dismissed due to improper use of an outdated appeal form.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to missing audiometric test results from 2015 and 2017.

The Veteran's right ear hearing was found to be at Level III, resulting in a non-compensable rating for his service-connected right ear hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination, and further evaluation is needed to determine if the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral hearing loss had its onset during active service or is related to any incident of service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for TBI has also been denied, with the Board finding that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.