Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that it began during active service and is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand instructions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including increased ratings for bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus and first MP joint bunion, chronic left hip strain, chronic right hip strain, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and bilateral foot gout. The remand includes obtaining additional medical records and opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there is no causal relationship between his current hearing loss and military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further development, including obtaining STRs, stressor development, and VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, as there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's current right shoulder and left ankle disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was rated at 10 percent prior to May 3, 2019. From May 3, 2019, the rating for his condition was increased to 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further development, including VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine and bilateral knee disorders, as well as bilateral hearing loss due to the need for further medical evaluation and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disorder, allergic rhinitis (claimed as allergies), and asthma. Service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied.

The Board has granted the petitions to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The cases are being remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of stab wounds to leg and abdomen, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss are all granted. The claim for service connection for BHL is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The issue of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to September 21, 2021, is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not considered a current disability for VA purposes.,The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any left hip disorder, neck disorder (secondary to right knee disability), and left leg tendonitis.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than January 6, 2016 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied.,The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was received on January 6, 2016. The RO awarded service connection with a zero percent evaluation effective from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder disability, but denied his claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disorder, and right hip disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of low back disability and granted a 10 percent rating for right finger/hand disability. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is no longer before the Board as they were previously granted. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Board has dismissed the legacy appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and ulcerative colitis as the appellant opted into the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) review system.