Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent prior to May 16, 2022; ten percent prior to May 24, 2022; and twenty percent since May 24, 2022. The Board has found that there was substantial compliance with remand directives and the case is now REMANDED for further development.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, head trauma, bilateral cataracts, and presbyopia are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea due to lack of current disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied, but his PTSD and tinnitus are granted.,Service connection for PTSD is established based on in-service stressors related to fear of hostile military activity. Service connection for tinnitus is also established as it is linked to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's TBI symptoms, including mild memory loss and headaches, are rated at 10 percent. Separate ratings of 10 percent each are granted for tinnitus and vertigo associated with service-connected TBI. The rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and right shoulder osteoarthritis, as well as service connection for neck disability. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions have been remanded due to procedural issues and the need for a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to determine if the audiometric tests conducted were using the Maryland CNC speech discrimination test and whether the private audiologists who performed those examinations were state-licensed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than October 4, 2018 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence did not support an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for left foot disability and right foot disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination regarding the appellant's bilateral hearing loss. The examiner did not provide a clear explanation of what constitutes a 'significant' threshold shift in service, and thus a new medical opinion is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of current evidence of bilateral hearing loss and because the Veteran testified that his hearing loss began in service and has persisted.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and right ear hearing loss as they were already granted in a previous decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence received since the last denial. The claims are now pending again, but a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has current disabilities and whether they are related to his military service.

The Veteran was granted service connection for a low back condition, right ankle condition, and right knee osteoarthritis. The appeal regarding tinnitus, hearing loss, and nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) was denied.,A revision of the June 2012 rating decision granting a 10 percent rating for hearing loss with an effective date of January 9, 2012, on the basis of CUE was denied.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for further medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right ear hearing loss. The issues of service connection and a compensable rating are intertwined.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, varicose veins, left knee disability, right knee disability, low back disability, sciatica, left, and sciatica, right due to procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and head injury. The Veteran's current hearing loss disability is found to be related to military noise exposure, while his head injury residuals are being remanded for additional medical opinion.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was submitted and requires further review by the AOJ before a final decision can be made.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to restore VA disability compensation benefits for 16 days and reimburse $538.13 due to improper withholding of benefits in FY 2012. The issue regarding the withholding of benefits in FY 2013 is remanded.