Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, hearing loss, and tinnitus due to potential secondary service connection from his service-connected PTSD and possible toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) related to his military occupation as a fixed wing aviator. Additional medical opinions are needed regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a qualifying hearing loss disability meeting VA's regulatory definition.,Service connection for TBI, whiplash, cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, sleep apnea, chronic fatigue, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for further examination and clarification of medical opinions.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been granted a 10% disability rating, effective September 1, 2021. A compensable rating prior to this date is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining National Guard service records and medical opinions regarding his knee conditions and hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient development of records, including VA treatment records from January 2016 and December 2019. The Veteran's representative also requested an opinion on whether his current hearing loss is related to in-service ENT issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis, finding that his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated at 0 percent since May 20, 2013. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to the level of impairment in his hearing.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection on all listed conditions prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has remanded the cases due to procedural issues and requests for a Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to receipt of additional VA medical evidence. The AOJ is instructed to consider this new evidence and provide notice with an opportunity to respond.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, right knee and left knee disabilities, right thumb/hand disorders, right elbow and ankle disabilities, left hip strain, neck disability, and left shoulder disability due to additional development being required.

Graves' Disease, Hyperthyroidism, and Thyroid Disorder are denied as not related to service.,Left Ear Hearing Loss is denied due to lack of in-service diagnosis or relationship to service.,Allergic Rhinitis (Sinusitis) requires further examination for a determination on its relation to service.,Right Ankle Deltoid Ligament Sprain and Lateral Collateral Ligament Sprain are remanded as the etiology is unclear.,Left Ankle Deltoid Ligament Sprain and Lateral Collateral Ligament Sprain are also remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's initial service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was assigned a noncompensable rating in January 2019. The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of his hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that his disability warranted a rating in excess of those assigned.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including asbestosis, asthma, COPD, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, radiculopathy, and bilateral hearing loss, have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since March 2005. The Board has granted an extraschedular TDIU for the period from March 22, 2005 to April 22, 2019.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The case is now pending for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient rationale in the VA examination report, lack of consideration of lay statements, and need for a new examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, left arm neuropathy, tinnitus, and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional clarification on stressor events and verification of claimed incidents.,Service connection for PTSD is also being remanded as there were no attempts to verify the claimed stressors.

The Veteran's PTSD was restored from a 50% to a 70% disability rating, effective September 7, 2010. The TDIU claim for service-connected disabilities is denied.