Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service connection claim for IBS is granted due to the PACT Act, while his hearing loss claim is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted as his current hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's left hip, left knee, and neck disabilities are granted as service-connected.,His bilateral hearing loss is not rated higher than noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and migraine headaches due to new evidence received after the last final rating decision. The Veteran's current diagnoses are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, left knee condition, and low back condition due to new and material evidence having been received. The AOJ is instructed to obtain VA records from 1997 to 1998 and any non-VA treatment records. They are also asked to send the claim file to an audiologist for a delayed onset of hearing loss opinion and to another physician to provide opinions on service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether tinnitus is related to service-connected hearing loss disability. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed by a VA examiner who will provide an addendum opinion addressing this issue.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and a skin condition due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection, including an inadequate VA examination and incomplete treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and left ear hearing loss disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.,There is no direct evidence linking the Veteran's current sleep apnea, hypertension, or left ear hearing loss disability to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinion in the previous decision. The claims are now pending for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board grants TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's request to reopen claims for service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction has been granted. Service connection is also granted for left eye diabetic retinopathy, bilateral hearing loss, right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy.,The Veteran's request to reopen a claim for service connection for residuals of colon cancer has been denied. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to new evidence suggesting it may be related to his sleep apnea.

The Board has found that additional development is necessary to ensure compliance with the duty to assist, as required. The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, total right knee arthroplasty, musculoligamentous strain with ligamentous laxity, left knee, and left knee patellofemoral and medial compartment degenerative disease are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, with a rating of 50%.,The Veteran's PTSD remains at 30%, as his appeal to increase the evaluation was not timely filed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing onset or relationship to service.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right lower extremity and left knee disorders, as there is insufficient medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and PTSD are service-connected, but his TDIU claim prior to September 7, 2017 is being remanded for consideration of an extra-schedular rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability, finding that there is no causal relationship between his current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to TDIU prior to April 4, 2017 due to insufficient evidence indicating whether he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.