Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment since May 31, 2016. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss as there is no evidence of additional hearing loss from the May 2016 VA audio examination, and the Veteran failed to appear for a scheduled VA examination in May 2017.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has worsened since her last VA examination, and she is entitled to a new evaluation. The case is being remanded for further assessment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to her active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, COPD, and an acquired psychiatric disability have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for COPD but the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disability remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions began during active service and are related to his military noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of adequate notice regarding scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral hearing loss. The case is remanded for further action on the hearing loss issue.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including hypertension, bilateral eye disability, headaches, psychiatric disorder, erectile dysfunction, low back disability, knee and hip disabilities, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and hearing loss, have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are necessary for the Veteran's right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, hypertension, left knee disorder, and bilateral hearing loss claims due to incomplete or inadequate previous examinations.

The Veteran's meralgia paresthetica of the left lower extremity was rated as noncompensable from November 15, 2016. The Board found that a compensable rating is not warranted due to mild incomplete paralysis.,Two separate 10 percent ratings were granted for meralgia paresthetica of the left lower extremity anterior crural (femoral) and posterior tibial nerves from February 8, 2021.

The Board has decided that a new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as the last examination was performed over five years ago.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives and a need for further medical evaluation to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the right ear hearing loss does not meet VA compensation criteria.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss cannot be established due to lack of a current disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the Board denied a higher rating.,Service connection for TBI was denied due to lack of evidence supporting its occurrence during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the December 2015 private opinion. The case is now open for additional development, including obtaining an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and an ear disorder other than bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to her military service.,There is no evidence of arthritis or any chronic condition in service, and there is insufficient evidence to establish continuity of symptomatology post-service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to service, and the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine were denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have ankylosis of his lumbar spine, and thus cannot meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and evaluations. The additional evidence from VA will be reviewed by the AOJ.