Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is reopened due to new evidence relating the condition to service. The case is remanded for a VA examiner to provide an opinion on whether his current hearing loss disability is related to noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 30 percent effective April 5, 2019. The Veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a 100% evaluation.

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

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to conflicting evidence and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's current hearing loss is being evaluated further.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the most persuasive evidence did not support a link between his current hearing loss and active military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss, bilateral shoulder disabilities, lumbar spine disability, neck disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need to undergo additional medical examinations and provide any necessary authorization for private records.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his appeals regarding the right ankle disability, left ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board dismissed these appeals as a result.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a maximum schedular rating of 100 percent effective October 6, 2022. Claims for left knee disability, right ankle disability, and right ear hearing loss were granted with new evidence. Other claims are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began during service and continues to this day. Service connection for hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between current hearing loss and military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active military service due to noise exposure. The decision resolves all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the March 2022 decision, including failing to obtain a VA audiology consult report and not ensuring that VA medical records were obtained. The Veteran is also required to undergo a new VA examination for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding medical records and further examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability during or within one year after service. The Board also found that the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to in-service noise exposure and jet fuel exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 0 percent, and his left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent. Both conditions are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability has been rated as 20 percent disabling under DC 5201. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and left ear hearing loss, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from November 17, 2003 to May 6, 2011. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since January 12, 2021.,The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for asbestosis, service connection for COPD, and TDIU on an extraschedular basis from December 9, 2014 to January 12, 2021.

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 service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of onset in service or continuity of symptoms since service. The VA audiologist opined that the current hearing loss is not related to military noise exposure.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the entitlement to a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.