Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to issues with scheduling VA examinations in Iwakuni City, Japan. The Veteran was not properly notified of examination arrangements.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and lumbar spine disability due to new evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as new and material evidence was not received.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for GERD is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic cough and right knee pain are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's right ankle brace damaged his work shoes, but the clothing allowance cannot be granted because eligible articles of clothing were not affected. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and a compensable disability rating for right ear hearing loss have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right great toe arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as there is no competent or credible evidence of a current disability or persistent or recurrent symptoms of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, have precluded him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation since September 12, 2009. The Board grants an effective date of September 12, 2009 for the TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU based on service-connected disabilities other than heart disease due to insufficient information provided by the Veteran regarding his employment situation and educational background.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and earlier effective date for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's claims are still pending.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss ratings are being remanded due to the need to obtain his auditory threshold scores from VA audiometric testing performed in October 2020 and September 14, 2018.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient discussion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss symptoms since service and the June 2015 VA examination report. The Veteran will be provided an opportunity to obtain relevant medical records from his former employer, and a new VA audiological examination will be scheduled.

The Board denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss from April 4, 2017 and dismissed the claim for a retroactive effective date.

The appeal of the recoupment of separation pay benefits from VA disability compensation is denied. The dental condition for treatment purposes issue is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims due to new and material evidence being added to the record, but a supplemental statement of the case has not been issued. The claims will be readjudicated after considering this new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment since 2004, and a TDIU rating is granted effective January 18, 2007.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic disability present during or within one year after service and concluding that his current hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one is needed to determine if the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his active service.

The claims for service connection have been reopened, and tinnitus has been granted. The left forearm and hand disorder is denied as already compensated by the partial amputation. The acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and PTSD) and a back disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran expressing an intent to withdraw all of his remaining claims and appeals prior to a decision.