Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and right foot disorder are denied.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings. The effective date of service connection for hypertension is denied as it arose after July 30, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to July 23, 2021 is being remanded due to the need to obtain all potentially relevant records from the Social Security Administration.

The Board has granted the petitions to reopen claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, eye disorder, and skin disorder. The issues of entitlement to service connection for these conditions are remanded due to outstanding private medical records.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the Veteran's pre-existing condition noted at entrance into service. The case is remanded for further development regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,For all other claims, the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating and his maximum allowable ratings are in place.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not support a finding that his hearing loss was more severe than currently rated during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's hearing loss is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disorder has been reopened due to new and material evidence. The claims for increased ratings of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left knee disability are denied. Other issues related to service connection have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical examination and review of the Veteran's work history. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to November 7, 2016 is now pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was rendered unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities for the appellate period prior to March 7, 2022. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and degenerative joint diseases of various joints, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted the TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to inadequate rationale in the previous VA examination. The Board requests an addendum opinion from a VA audiologist to address the Veteran's exposure during military service, including noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's headaches are aggravated by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and/or BPPV. Further development is needed.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and review due to incomplete records from Social Security Administration (SSA).

The Veteran's non-Hodgkin Burkitt lymphoma and right ear hearing loss are granted service connection due to their relation to his active duty service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, left ear disability, back pain, neck pain, left arm disability, right arm disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability. The issues have been remanded due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating at any point during the period on review.,Service connection for hypertension was denied because there was insufficient evidence to link the current condition to service, within one year of separation, or directly related to service.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU from June 23, 2016 was granted as his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus.,For the denial, the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA standards.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and new evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss is related to his service.