Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability as defined by VA standards and thus could not establish service connection.

The Board has determined that VA examinations are necessary to assess the current nature, onset and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities. The Veteran failed to appear for scheduled VA examinations and good cause has been shown.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the May 2018 VA examination report.

The Board has found that there are outstanding records and the Veteran should be afforded VA examinations for his service connection claims. The appeals are being remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, headaches, a mid-back injury, cervical spine degenerative joint disease (claimed as neck injury), radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity due to lack of contemporaneous medical records and insufficient information.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right elbow disability are not service-connected.,His depressive disorder was rated appropriately based on its severity.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating and a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss, as well as his claim for TDIU, are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated at 10 percent since September 17, 2013. The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the condition from August 19, 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to an error in determining when the Veteran's period of active duty started. The examiner is asked to consider both sets of units used in the June 1968 hearing test and provide a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's hearing loss is related to his service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the Board finding that it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on current symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate development, specifically failing to obtain medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and psychiatric disability. The claims are now pending for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was denied, as the symptoms did not warrant a higher evaluation.,Left ear hearing loss was found to be noncompensable under VA compensation criteria due to lack of impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus on a presumptive basis due to exposure to loud noise during military service. The Veteran's symptoms of hearing loss and ringing in the ears were chronic during service and continue since separation.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current condition is due to symptoms he experienced during active duty. The right ear hearing loss claim was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current disability and service.,While the Veteran reported noise exposure in service, his post-service medical records do not show any complaints or treatment for hearing loss until over a decade after separation from service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for psoriasis has been reopened and granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and right knee disability have been granted, and a 20 percent rating has been assigned for her right foot disability from January 29, 2015 to April 18, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for IBS, a sinus/allergy condition with difficulty breathing due to burn pits and toxins in the Gulf, migraines, and a left foot condition. The claim for left ear hearing loss was remanded.,Service connection is not granted for any of the conditions listed.

The Veteran's tension headaches and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity have not been productive of characteristic prostrating attacks or other symptoms warranting higher ratings.,Service connection for asthma, respiratory insufficiency (COPD), sinusitis, neck disability, and muscle and joint pain has not been established.