Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss, higher ratings for his left knee disabilities, and entitlement to TDIU prior to August 13, 2002. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examiners and a need for new examinations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not show a relationship to service or noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities from March 4, 2022. The Veteran's cardiac disability is rated at 100% disabling during this period.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service, granted.,Service connection for a thyroid nodule is denied as the evidence does not support its onset or relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a lumbar spine disability, a skin disability, and a respiratory disability due to inadequate medical opinions and missing STRs. The VA is directed to obtain any outstanding records and provide additional medical opinions as needed.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, coronary artery disease with stable angina, and PTSD with depressed mood and sleep impairment. The appeal for an increased rating for OSA is remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The application to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is granted. The applications to reopen claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, left knee condition, right knee condition, neck condition, and right ear hearing loss are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability. The claim will be reviewed again with a new opinion.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his left shoulder disability, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, irritability and social isolation as secondary to bilateral hearing loss, ear pain, dizziness, and vertigo as secondary to bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for dizziness/vertigo and a psychiatric disorder, both secondary to the service-connected hearing loss.

The Board has granted a 50% rating for bilateral hearing loss, but the issue of service connection for bilateral eye disability (claimed as cataracts) is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and active service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, which are currently service-connected.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for back issues due to procedural errors in the initial appeal process.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions addressing audiometric threshold shifts during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be at least as likely as not related to his active service, including in-service noise exposure. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to open medical questions and need for new VA medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability began during his service due to in-service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left ankle disability. The case is being remanded to determine the nature and etiology of any left knee disability.