Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right and left knee disabilities, and right and left hip disabilities have been denied as new and material evidence was not received. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy were also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, but he is now rated at 100% for PTSD. As a result, the claim for TDIU as of November 6, 2020 is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability rating and service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service acoustic trauma and granted service connection. However, the decision on bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted the request to readjudicate the claim for bilateral flatfoot. The claim for secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as related to PTSD and obesity is remanded due to new evidence received since the last decision. The claim for gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) and bilateral hearing loss are also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (coronary heart disease, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss) prevent him from securing and following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim, specifically because he did not appear for his scheduled VA examination. The RO will need to confirm the Veteran's current address and schedule him for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to unclear functional loss assessments in previous VA examinations. Further evaluations by medical professionals are needed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure is sufficient to result in a grant of service connection for tinnitus. The Board resolved doubt in favor of the Veteran and found that his current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for emphysema, headache condition, bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee strain, and right knee strain due to an improper filing of a Notice of Disagreement (NOD).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, finding that he does not have a current disability of hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate is denied because he does not meet the statutory criteria for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s). He has a combined disability rating of 30 percent and no service-connected disability rated higher than 10 percent, which prevents him from qualifying for SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits are granted effective December 22, 2009. The decision also grants the Veteran a 70 percent rating for PTSD since December 22, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds the November 2018 VA opinion inadequate and remands the case to obtain a new VA audiology examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not shown to be present during service or within the applicable presumptive period, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. The Board denied service connection for this condition.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a current left knee disability that is related to service. The Veteran did not have any documented knee injuries in service, and her separation examination was negative for any complaints or findings regarding the knees. She also testified that she treated her knee pain with over-the-counter medication during service without seeking further treatment.,The Veteran's right knee condition was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease. The Board denied service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran to undergo VA examinations and obtain additional medical records in order to determine the nature, severity, and etiology of his claimed conditions. The issues of entitlement to service connection are also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded the claims for OSA and hypertension due to lack of a medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, finding that additional development is needed. The issues include a rating in excess of 30 percent for peripheral vestibular disorder, a compensable rating for post-operative right tympanoplasty for perforated right tympanic membrane, a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for a bilateral foot disorder, knee disorders, hip disorder, back disorder, shoulder disorder, tailbone disorder, and right ear hearing loss due to incomplete military records. The increased rating claim for left ear hearing loss is also remanded.