Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to June 26, 2020 and a 30 percent rating thereafter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss due to a lack of valid audiometric testing demonstrating hearing loss during any portion of the appeal period. The VA opinions considered were deemed most probative, and no objective or competent opinion evidence supported the presence or etiology of right ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and initial rating for PUD with IBS due to concerns about missing medical records from the Veteran's active duty period. The Veteran is also required to undergo a VA examination to assess his current disability status.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, but the issue of service connection for hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a new VA examination to address the Veteran's right shoulder disability and right ear hearing loss. The appeal is pending as the Veteran seeks service connection for his right eye disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The claims are being returned for additional development, including obtaining clarification from private audiologists regarding the type of word lists used in evaluations.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, but the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, leading to a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's hyperlipidemia is not a disability for VA purposes.,There is no evidence of a right kidney disability, to include cystic kidney disease, incurred in service.,There is no evidence of a gall bladder disability, to include cholecystectomy residuals, incurred in service.,There is no evidence of a colon disability, to include colon polyps, incurred in service.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and bilateral hearing loss are not shown to be due to service or any service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for hyperlipidemia, right kidney disability, gall bladder disability, colon disability, and bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss prior to August 30, 2021.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination and need for additional VA clinical records. The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure during combat.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder degenerative joint disease and service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to issues with previous examinations and lack of consideration of lay reports regarding delayed onset hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder is granted with an effective date of April 24, 1982. Service connection for perforated ear drums (claimed as tympanic membrane injury with bilateral hearing loss) is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in its previous decisions and the need for further development of evidence, including obtaining VA treatment records and an audiologist's opinion on the Veteran's hearing loss from April 2011 to December 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 and lumbar spine disorder, but has remanded the claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and cervical spine disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for COPD, MAC, psoriasis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to outstanding private treatment records and inadequate VA medical opinions. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in service is presumed.

The Board has remanded several issues, including an increased rating for right ear hearing loss, a determination of TDIU, service connection for PTSD, and the effective date for service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran is required to provide information about his employment status and undergo a VA audiological evaluation.

Service connection for a skin rash was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Bilateral hearing loss prior to August 2, 2016, was granted a 10 percent rating and not increased further.,Bilateral hearing loss from August 2, 2016, was granted a 30 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear and left ear hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure. The appeals are not related to service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to uncertainty regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and its relation to service. A new VA examination is needed to clarify these issues.