Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he does not have a disability level of hearing impairment for VA compensation purposes.,The Veteran's claim for chronic venous insufficiency, secondary to service-connected status post total left knee arthroplasty, was granted.

The Board has determined that the VA opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is inadequate and requires further clarification. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded to obtain a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted at a 10 percent rating effective January 11, 2020. The left ankle disability and cervical spine condition are both remanded for further examination.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has denied both claims as there is no evidence to support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral shoulder disabilities, a right knee disability (including below the knee amputation), and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The specific nature and etiology of these conditions will need to be addressed through further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is service-connected as it began in service and there is continuity of symptomatology since then.

The Veteran's increased rating for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo with Meniere's Disease is granted, subject to the laws and regulations controlling the award of monetary benefits. The issues of increased ratings for Bilateral Hearing Loss and Tinnitus are dismissed as moot due to their subsumption in the Meniere's Disease rating.

The Board dismissed the appeals for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus as they are not eligible to be decided due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is now rated at 40 percent effective January 3, 2022. Other ratings remain unchanged.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA and private medical records, and will discuss continuity of symptomatology evidence on remand.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of his TDIU claim prior to August 19, 2020.

The Board has determined that additional information is needed to decide the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded for further development.

An increased (compensable) disability rating for the service-connected bilateral hearing loss from September 2, 2015, is denied.,Service connection for postural hypotension (claimed as vertigo), as secondary to medication prescribed to treat the service-connected hypertension, is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, specifically his exposure to loud explosions during service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. However, it denied service connection for both right ear and left ear hearing loss as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria for compensation purposes in either ear.

The Veteran's hearing acuity has not been shown at any time to have been worse than Level II in both ears on audiometric testing that is valid for rating purposes, resulting in a zero percent rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including acquired psychiatric conditions and musculoskeletal issues. The appeals are pending due to incomplete development of evidence related to stressor verification and examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to issue an SOC in the modernized system, and the appellant must file a timely appeal within the legacy system.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including rating higher than 20 percent for low back disability, cervical spine disability, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and cystic acne; service connection for thyroid disability secondary to cystic acne; and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.