Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, and thus no further action will be taken on these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be further evaluated with a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and an initial rating for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran is also entitled to a compensable initial rating for his service-connected right ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss due to a duty to assist error and incomplete audiometric test results.

The appeal regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and erectile dysfunction is dismissed. A 50% disability rating for the Veteran's bilateral foot disability (heel spurs, plantar warts, hammer toes) is granted. The appeals regarding right knee, left knee disabilities, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, along with other service-connected conditions, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU as his disability is manageable by medication and restricted diet.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, or right knee disability are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to engage and retain substantially gainful employment, which the Board has granted for TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for hearing loss due to incomplete VA assistance and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and right hip and left hip osteoarthritis, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and active service.

The Board denied service connection for GERD, respiratory disorder (other than sleep apnea), bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current disability for bilateral hearing loss, and thus service connection is denied. The left knee issue remains remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, the maximum rating available. The appeal for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation in excess of 30 percent for residuals of right great toe fracture is denied.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss condition and left ear hearing loss condition are both remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the presence or aggravation of these conditions during service.,Service connection for tinnitus is also remanded as there was no opinion on its relation to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as secondary to bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current disabilities are considered to be causally related to his active military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was initially denied prior to September 3, 2014. From that date until November 1, 2022, he received a 10 percent rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The right inguinal scar has been rated as 10 percent disabling since the examination in October 2022.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted, with a rating of 60% effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU prior to January 13, 2016 due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection. Additional VA treatment records are needed, and a new VA opinion is required.