Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is related to the Veteran's active duty service due to noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment since September 12, 2008.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

An effective date of July 26, 1970, but no earlier, for the award of service connection for left wrist scar has been granted. Effective June 4, 2009, service connection was established for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. An effective date prior to June 25, 2010, for the award of service connection for migraine headaches is denied.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's entitlement to a compensable disability rating for perforated eardrum of the left ear, status-post tympanoplasty, and residuals thereof are both denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's timely VA Form 9 was filed, thus reinstating his appeal on the underlying claims of service connection for tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. He was initially granted a noncompensable rating from August 31, 2016, to April 20, 2023, and then a 10 percent rating since April 21, 2023.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient examination findings, particularly regarding the significance of pure tone threshold shifts throughout his active duty service. The RO is instructed to obtain additional VA treatment records and provide an addendum opinion from an appropriate examiner.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to new evidence being obtained since the last AOJ adjudication.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder due to insufficient evidence of current disability and need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The appeals seeking service connection for right shoulder disability, right and left bunion pain, and anxiety, schizophrenia, and depression are dismissed as the claims have been rendered moot by prior awards.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as increased ratings for left forearm limitation of flexion and extension. The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence presented.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for further examination to determine if it is related to service.,The Veteran's genitourinary disability is being remanded for an addendum opinion from the June 2022 VA examiner to determine its relationship to service.,The Veteran's right wrist CTS is being remanded for an addendum opinion from the November 2022 VA examiner to determine if it is related to service.,PTSD and other specified depressive disorder (hereinafter PTSD) are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to service.,Right leg shin splints are being remanded for an addendum opinion from the June 2022 VA examiner to determine their relationship to service.,Left leg shin splints are being remanded for an addendum opinion from the June 2022 VA examiner to determine their relationship to service.,Allergic rhinitis is being remanded for an addendum opinion from the January 2023 VA examiner to determine its relationship to service.,Dermatitis is being remanded for an addendum opinion from the January 2023 VA examiner to determine its relationship to service.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for various conditions and special monthly compensation (SMC) as the appellant requested withdrawal of these appeals prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a respiratory disorder, CFS, and bilateral hearing loss disability have been dismissed. The appeal of his PTSD claim is remanded due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C has been reopened and remanded. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of this claim.,The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his current disability level does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his claims of bilateral hearing loss, headache disability, left wrist ganglion cyst with residual scar, and anterior trunk scar.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his right ear disability, including hearing loss, as well as his left ear hearing loss. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, PTSD, and left hip condition as secondary to lumbar degenerative disc disease were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or a causal relationship between these conditions and active service.,There is no current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea in the Veteran's medical records.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted a 40% disability rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. Separate ratings of 10% were granted for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy prior to May 23, 2017, with no higher ratings allowed.