Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss was denied as his puretone thresholds and speech discrimination scores did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher disability rating for left ear sensorineural hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition warranted a compensable (10 percent) rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in audiometric testing and speech discrimination scores, which need clarification from the private examiner.

The Veteran's Meniere's disease with hearing loss and tinnitus was granted a disability rating of 60 percent, effective from December 17, 2020. The previously assigned ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were discontinued.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right foot disability, left foot disability, psychiatric disorder, dental disability, and back disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss increased to a level that warranted an increase from 10% to 40%, effective February 7, 2018. The decision is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service exposure to hazardous noise and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. However, the Board found in favor of the Veteran on his claim for tinnitus, finding it plausible that the condition began during active duty and has persisted since then.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus (including as secondary to a psychiatric disability), and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for a psychiatric disability. The claims are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records not having been obtained, and the Veteran failing to appear for scheduled examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone, at least as likely as not prevented him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment for the entire period on appeal, prior to December 13, 2019. The Veteran is already awarded a 100 percent combined rating from December 13, 2019.

The appeal seeking to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The case is remanded for further development regarding the merits of the claims.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is not related to in-service noise exposure or secondary to the Veteran's service-connected traumatic brain injury.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of left knee and bilateral hip disorders. The remaining issues have been remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for low back disability and right leg numbness due to lack of VA examination.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military noise exposure or any other cause.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus has been granted.,Service connection is established for both conditions based on continuity of symptoms since separation from active duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing current disability. The psychiatric disability claims are remanded as there is insufficient information regarding the relationship between the service-connected tinnitus and the diagnosed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss disability in either ear as required by VA compensation standards. The evidence did not show a disabling degree of hearing loss in the right ear and left ear hearing loss was not shown to be related to noise exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that it was incurred in service and continued.