Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has denied service connection for arthritis of the left upper thigh, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of a current diagnosis. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no current disability at any time during the pendency of his claim.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn, leaving the issues of left knee disability and acquired psychiatric disability to be decided.,The Veteran's claim for left knee disability was reopened based on new evidence showing a connection to service. The claim for acquired psychiatric disability was granted as it is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for hearing loss, service connection for psychiatric and cognitive disabilities secondary to hearing loss, and TDIU due to his hearing impairment. The claims are being remanded because new examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's disability and opinions are required regarding whether his psychiatric and cognitive issues are related to his hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issue of service connection for a low back condition is being remanded due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for sinusitis and other respiratory disorders due to a lack of VA examination, and will provide updated treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, including whether it is related to service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been granted. The issue of a compensable disability evaluation for right ear hearing loss is being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to April 14, 2023 and a rating in excess of 40 percent thereafter. The Veteran's hearing acuity was rated at Level VII in the right ear and Level VIII in the left ear as of April 14, 2023.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 10 percent prior to April 24, 2019 and restored to that rating. For the period since April 24, 2019, a higher evaluation of 70 percent is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, arthritis, left ankle condition, and right hip replacement due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's testimony and private opinions suggest a connection to service, but further examination is needed.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise, and thus service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet his burden of establishing an inability to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by service, and the claim is denied.,The Veteran's lung cancer was not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by service, and the claim is denied.

For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 10 percent.,For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran's tinnitus disability is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his hearing loss remains within the legacy system. The Board has decided to remand this issue due to insufficient evidence and a need for a more current examination.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability needs to be re-evaluated due to a potential increase in severity, and the Board has ordered a new VA examination.