Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, but the Board has decided to remand these issues due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their onset or relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that it had its onset in service and is related to noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for right knee disability have been denied. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of hearing loss for VA purposes, and his right knee disability is currently rated at 10%.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for skin cancer, a respiratory disability (claimed as trouble breathing), type II diabetes mellitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not establish current disabilities or link them to service.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for a compensable disability rating for right ear neurosensory hearing loss before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss for additional development. The TDIU issue is also deferred until these issues are resolved.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, continuity of symptomatology, or in-service incurrence.

The Board has determined that there is not enough evidence to support a current hearing disability for VA purposes, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The low back disorder issue was remanded due to inadequate reasoning in the previous opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and unspecified back condition due to incomplete National Guard records and insufficient VA examination. The AOJ is required to provide the Georgia National Guard with the date of the Veteran's discharge from his National Guard service, request that the Veteran's National Guard records be located, obtain additional Hearing Loss and Tinnitus VA examination reports, issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) considering these new evidence, and schedule a VA examination for the unspecified back condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new medical opinion considering studies cited by his representative and addressing his decrease in hearing from entrance to separation.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss was denied. Prior to February 2, 2023, the disability rating remained at noncompensable (0%). From February 2, 2023, a rating in excess of 10% is also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Veteran withdrew from appeal all issues related to service connection for various disabilities and an increased rating, resulting in the dismissal of these appeals.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck disorders were denied, but new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen these claims. Service connection is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD) was previously denied, but the appeal is granted as her symptoms are related to active-duty service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's right and left knee degenerative arthritis are granted as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for the service-connected bilateral hearing loss from September 23, 2012, to May 7, 2021.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or maintain any substantially gainful occupation, and thus grants his claim for a TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to receipt of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for left ear hearing loss, but denied for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran withdrew all his pending appeals before the Board, including hearings scheduled for him.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete examinations and inapplicable medical records.