Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, blood clots of the right and left legs, and nerve damage of the left leg due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to May 13, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's ability to work during the specified time period. The case will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Board has restored a 10 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the reduction from 10 to 0 percent was improper due to an improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to unresolved issues regarding his service-connected conditions, including PTSD and hearing loss. The decision on these matters will be reconsidered.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not begin during or is otherwise related to his military service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion and incomplete audiometric records. The Veteran's hearing loss is being reviewed again for a determination of its etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for COPD, diabetes, heart impairment, and prostate cancer due to lack of available service treatment records. The Veteran's arguments indicate these conditions may be related to in-service exposure to various chemicals, but further development is needed.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus.,A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of plantar warts (claimed as HPV).,A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of OSA.,A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of asthma.,A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of a back disorder.,A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of restless leg syndrome of the right leg.,A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of restless leg syndrome of the left leg.,A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of bilateral hearing loss.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left index finger limitation of range of motion with lacerated digital nerve is remanded.,An initial compensable rating for scar of the left index finger pad is remanded.,An initial compensable rating for allergic conjunctivitis is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been dismissed.,The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is dismissed.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied. The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for bronchitis and restless leg syndrome, as well as the secondary service connection issue.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for a new medical opinion. The current rating decision does not assign a specific disability rating or effective date.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, left leg radiculopathy, and unspecified trauma and stress related disorder due to outstanding VA and non-VA treatment records being needed.

The Veteran's initial rating for tinnitus is denied, and the cases of bilateral hearing loss and left middle finger disability are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that his condition did not warrant such a rating based on VA examination results and the applicable rating criteria.

Service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for thoracic spine arthritis is granted based on continuity of symptoms since service. Service connection for asthma, sinusitis, rhinitis, and pulmonary disorder are remanded as the Veteran has not yet been examined for these conditions.,Service connection for heart disorder and chronic fatigue are remanded as the VA examiner did not provide an opinion regarding whether these disorders are due to undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss, finding no evidence of a nexus to service.

The Veteran's hearing loss is granted as service connection due to in-service noise exposure.,Degenerative arthritis of the spine is granted as service connection based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has decided that the service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus need to be reconsidered based on new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA audiology treatment records and a new VA examination to assess his bilateral hearing loss.