Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service connection claim for left ear tinnitus is granted. Claims for service connection of left ear hearing loss, left knee disability, and left ankle disability are remanded.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy have all been denied as they do not warrant a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.,A compensable rating for left ear hearing loss has also been denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer and bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence. The issues of service connection for tinnitus, thoracic cage blood clots, erectile dysfunction (secondary to prostate cancer), and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were denied. The claim for tinnitus was not granted as higher than 10 percent.,PTSD was rated at the highest possible level (70 percent) prior to July 16, 2020, and TDIU was granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure to chemicals while stationed in Japan. The Board will consider all of his claimed conditions, including cardiovascular issues and diabetes, as part of this case.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have started in service and has continued since then. The cervical spine, low back, and left hip disorders are remanded for additional development as the VA examiners' opinions did not consider pertinent service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate previous opinions and failure to address all relevant factors, including noise exposure from all periods of service.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current disability level does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus and remanded for further evaluation of bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's hearing loss and psychiatric disorder claims are remanded for further development. The decision on hearing loss is to deny a compensable rating, while the psychiatric disorder claim requires additional evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to an error in a previous decision. The case is now before the VA examiner for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused an inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to May 11, 2017. The Board found that the evidence showed he was unable to work due to his lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and other conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss rating is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examination and missing private treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his periods of active-duty service.,Service connection is also granted for OSA, with a remand required due to inadequate medical opinion addressing whether the condition was first diagnosed after service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his active service or caused by military service, considering his conceded noise exposure and herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable since June 8, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not show a compensable rating for his hearing acuity.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as secondary to left ear hearing loss. Bilateral hearing loss is considered established due to in-service noise exposure, while the tinnitus is linked to the Veteran's history of otosclerosis surgery following his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases of Meniere's disease and vertigo, as well as bilateral hearing loss disability for further development. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions based on in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable disability rating prior to January 10, 2023, and a rating in excess of 10 percent disabling therefrom is being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records related to his bilateral hearing loss are required.