Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is etiologically related to his active-duty service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (patella femoral), and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome have been denied. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for these conditions are also denied.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess the severity of the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by his representative.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a significant threshold shift beyond normal measurement variability during service. The Veteran's current conditions are not linked to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss prior to September 19, 2022, and in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss thereafter is denied. The claims for service connection for dizziness, headache disorder, and right ulna fracture (major) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to December 4, 2015 due to concerns about whether a claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss remained pending after an October 29, 2012 VA rating decision. The AOJ is instructed to consider this and determine if the matter remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and a right knee disability, but has remanded the issue of left ear hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective from November 3, 2022. The claim for an extraschedular evaluation remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a link between current hearing loss and active duty.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the rating for bilateral hearing loss, so the case is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as the evidence did not show these conditions were incurred in or related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and a need for further evaluation of the Veteran's hearing loss disability.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus must be remanded due to a pre-decisional error in scheduling an examination. The Veteran provided good cause for missing his scheduled examinations, and a new VA examination is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from July 12, 2017. The rating for bilateral hearing loss remains at 30 percent since June 8, 2016. Effective July 12, 2017, TDIU and DEA benefits are granted.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) due to being housebound was denied because he does not meet the criteria for SMC Housebound, as his disabilities do not satisfy the requirements of a single 100% service-connected disability and additional disabilities independently ratable at 60% or more.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction was withdrawn by the Veteran at his August 2023 Board hearing.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The Veteran testified that he had to turn up the volume on his television and ask his wife to repeat herself, indicating functional impairment.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied because there is no evidence of a current disability prior to the filing of the claim.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of ovarian cysts for additional development. The Veteran's claims are not granted as there is no evidence of service connection for these conditions.