Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, depression, and sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to December 18, 2019 and service connection for perforated ear drum, ear scarring, running ear, and chronic otitis media. The decision is based on the lack of evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.

The Board has remanded multiple service connection claims due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions, as well as the need to obtain outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's disabilities include musculoskeletal issues, hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, sleep apnea, lung conditions, headaches, heart condition, diabetes mellitus, kidney conditions, eye conditions, peripheral neuropathies, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has granted a separate rating of 10 percent for ear pain throughout the appeal. The case is REMANDED to obtain updated VA medical records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to assess the current extent and severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions to address whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, including considering his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral hearing loss and back disorder due to inadequate etiological opinions in prior VA examinations. The Veteran's service records do not show any specific complaints or treatment for these conditions during service, but he contends that his current symptoms are related to incidents during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and disability evaluations have been denied. Additional development is required to address the issues of right foot pes planus, left foot pes planus, right foot plantar fasciitis, left foot plantar fasciitis, sleep apnea, athlete's foot (ringworm), tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and its relation to his active duty service. A new VA examination is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, as evidenced by noise exposure during his time in the Marine Corps. The evidence supports a finding of service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for a TDIU prior to March 30, 2022. Additional development is required including obtaining VA treatment records and clarifying whether speech discrimination testing used the Maryland CNC word list.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 30 percent prior to February 22, 2022, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter. The Board denied the claim as there is no indication that any evaluation higher than the current 30 percent evaluation is warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to procedural errors and the need for additional development, including toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for a sleep disorder. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss claim is denied as he does not have a current disability, defined by VA regulations. For the sleep disorder claim, additional development is needed to clarify all diagnosed conditions and determine their etiology.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of sleep apnea and denied service connection for this condition. The hearing loss claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete records and missed VA examinations. The Veteran's neck, back, and left ear hearing loss claims are being reviewed again.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The decision is based on credible lay evidence of in-service noise exposure and post-service symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to an earlier effective date for service connection of panic attacks and bilateral hearing loss, as the claims were received on June 27, 2017. The appeal for increased rating of bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus have been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right median motor neuropathy has also been granted.