Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right and left knee conditions, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), and body convulsions (to include restless leg syndrome) due to new evidence not being received.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss is dismissed because he withdrew the appeal in September 2020, expressing satisfaction with the current ratings.

The Board has determined that the claims of service connection for tinnitus, right hearing loss, and diabetes need further development due to incomplete medical opinions and consideration of relevant evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, right and left foot disabilities, and hypertension due to inadequate examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, prostate disease, kidney disability, and food allergies. The Veteran's PTSD rating was reduced from 70% to 50%, effective February 11, 2021.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in March 2023.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies in VA hearing loss examinations and a need for further development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service noise exposure. The VA examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion addressing these matters.

The Board has remanded several claims of service connection due to the need for additional records from the Dallas VAMC, which may be relevant to these cases.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. The remand requires additional development including a VA examination and medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the issue of service connection for left knee disability due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to conflicting findings in a VA medical opinion based on an Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural errors and will issue a Statement of the Case (SOC) for the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee instability, degenerative disk disease of the lumbosacral spine, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of October 29, 2021.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and its relationship to service. A new VA examination is needed to determine if he currently suffers from this condition and whether it is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss. The issue of right ear hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Appellant's income and medical expenses to determine her eligibility for death pension benefits, as well as to verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicides and ionizing radiation during service. Additionally, a VA medical opinion is needed to address the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the failure to appear at a scheduled VA examination. Additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling another VA examination, is required.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development of records, including VA and private treatment records from before 2022. The issue will be returned after compliance with appellate procedures.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for a higher rating of his service-connected hearing loss in the right ear. The Board has dismissed this issue.