Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The cases for bilateral hearing loss and a left knee condition are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination regarding the Veteran's claimed left ear hearing loss. A new VA examination is needed to determine if his current condition is related to service.

The Board has decided that the issue of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss of the left ear should be remanded due to insufficient medical opinion and need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's GERD is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but the evidence does not show that it warrants a higher rating.,The Veteran's left ear hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable since May 2016. The current audiometric testing shows no improvement in his hearing condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, specifically related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and sleep apnea are being remanded due to improper filing of the RAMP election form, but jurisdiction remains with the Board. The issues will be returned to the RO for issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether his current bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for right ear hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that his hearing loss met or approximated the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied because he did not meet the threshold requirements for a current disability under VA regulations.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to insufficient evidence or need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to decide these issues.,A VA examination and opinion are required to determine if any current heel condition, hearing loss, or back condition is related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, as other nonservice-connected conditions have impacted his employability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not rated compensably, as his current hearing levels do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection for COPD due to asbestos exposure is denied because there is no evidence of in-service exposure and the condition is more likely related to smoking than service.,Coronary artery disease claimed as due to herbicide agent exposure is denied, with the opinion stating that the Veteran's COPD was not caused by his service-connected asbestos-related COPD.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, claimed as due to herbicide agent exposure is denied because there is no evidence of in-service exposure and the condition is more likely related to smoking than service.,Transient ischemic attack (TIA), claimed as due to herbicide agent exposure, is denied with the opinion stating that the Veteran's COPD was not caused by his service-connected asbestos-related COPD.

The Board has determined that the current adjudication of the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is premature due to inadequate examination and remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion addressing the contentions of the July 2023 representative's brief and the audiogram from November 2017.

The Veteran's otitis media with bilateral hearing loss was granted a 10 percent rating from June 4, 2018 to February 21, 2022. The effective date for this increased rating is not specified as the increase in disability level could be factually ascertained.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.,The application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), was granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.,The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a left knee disorder due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including bilateral hip and foot disabilities, psychiatric conditions, sleep disorders, hearing loss, vertigo, vision loss, hyperlipidemia, GERD, skin rashes, hand circulatory condition, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction. The remand requires additional examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate reasoning regarding the VA audiological examination and the need for an addendum opinion. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further review.