Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, keratitis, and residuals of a right eye injury has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes. For keratitis and residuals of a right eye injury, the Veteran's claims are remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine their relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left ear hearing loss. The issues of service connection for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss are pending.

The Board has jurisdiction over the Veteran's Legacy appeal and finds that a SOC must be issued for the issues of service connection for various conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and chronic right shoulder pain due to new evidence being added to the file. The Veteran's service connection claim for right shoulder pain is also remanded as there are insufficient opinions in the record regarding its relationship to sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was reduced from a 10 percent rating to a 0 percent rating, but the reduction is overturned and the original 10 percent rating is restored.

The Veteran's hearing loss and jaw disability are being remanded for further evaluation as the current ratings do not reflect the severity of his conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records, specifically an audiogram from a private medical facility. The Veteran and his representative are advised on how to obtain these records.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, increases in staged ratings for sacroiliac injury and weakness with intervertebral disc syndrome (back disability), a rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy. The issues are also remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide the Veteran with another VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left knee conditions, but granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding no current diagnosis of this condition and not establishing any chronic symptoms or continuous post-service symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss and tinnitus, due to the lack of evidence showing an increase in disability during service. Service connection was not granted as the Veteran's preexisting hearing loss did not undergo any progression during his active duty.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including effective date determinations and service connection for various disabilities. The appeal remains in appellate status.

The appeal of the service connection claim for kidney stones is dismissed.,The appeal of the service connection claim for sinusitis is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss disability due to an inability to obtain VA treatment records from certain facilities. The Veteran is advised of his responsibility to provide these records or request further assistance.

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus, nightmare disorder, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and low back disability due to incomplete procedures.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, low back condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition due to incomplete service treatment records. The Veteran's current diagnoses do not meet VA criteria for hearing loss as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The appeal as to service connection for sleep disturbance and anxiety disorder is dismissed.,The appeals as to the remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board denied a compensable initial rating for right ear hearing loss as there was no change in the rating due to how hearing loss is calculated when it affects only one ear.