Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a compensable rating prior to July 23, 2019 and a rating in excess of 10 percent since then.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and acquired psychiatric disorder require additional development due to ambiguities in the examination reports and challenges regarding the competency of the examiners.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was related to his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided that service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted, but the right ear hearing loss claim remains pending and requires further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability, finding that he does not have a current diagnosis of such a disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss and has determined that he meets the criteria for service connection based on in-service noise exposure. The Veteran now has a current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of recent medical records and need for a new examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss but has remanded the issue of left ear hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be at least as likely as not related to exposure to excessive noise (acoustic trauma) during active duty service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder, OSA secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder, and hypertension. The issues are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability and diabetes mellitus, type II. However, the issue of service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure to herbicides.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is etiologically related to noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss has been rated as Level I, which is noncompensable.,There is no current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to inadequate examination and lack of in-service evidence. The RO is instructed to obtain private audiological treatment records and provide an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and the Board has dismissed the case.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's appeals for service connection regarding a right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of hysterectomy need to be remanded due to new evidence added to the record since the March 2019 Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss must be remanded due to the need for a more recent VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, including noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss was granted, and he is now entitled to this benefit.,The Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome has also been granted as a service-connected condition.

The Board has granted reopening of service connection for right foot pes planus and left foot pes planus, finding that the pre-existing conditions increased in severity during service. Service connection is also granted for back disability (arthritis), right wrist arthritis, left wrist arthritis, right ankle arthritis, left ankle arthritis, tinnitus, and bilateral ear hearing loss.