Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, cervical neck disorder, and left ear hearing loss due to incomplete factual records and need for additional opinions.

The Board has found that the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) did not substantially comply with prior remand directives and has ordered further development for an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and tinnitus has been granted. The remaining issues are remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus is aggravating his hearing loss disability, and he has requested a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The case must be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to February 16, 2022 was denied as his hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating. A subsequent increased rating of 40 percent from February 16, 2022 is also denied.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and an undiagnosed illness (claimed as fatigue). The Veteran's bilateral hand disability other than the right little finger contusion mallet finger is also remanded. Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the bilateral shoulders remains in dispute.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of current diagnosis meeting VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, while the evidence is against finding that COPD began during service or is otherwise related to service.,The claim for service connection for skin cancer remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, right toe disability, back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.,The Veteran's current disabilities were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been found to preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, resulting in a grant of TDIU effective October 21, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and a noncompensable rating for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's preexisting left ear hearing loss was not aggravated by military service, and his right ear hearing acuity is at Level IV, yielding a noncompensable rating.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to its connection with the previously adjudicated increased rating claim for PTSD. The AOJ should develop and adjudicate this claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, GERD, right hip osteoarthritis as secondary to service-connected right knee osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis as secondary to service-connected right knee osteoarthritis due to outstanding VA medical records. The appeals are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to September 20, 2022 was denied. The claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent since September 20, 2022 was also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and incomplete medical records, particularly regarding noise exposure and hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship of hearing loss and tinnitus to service. The VA examiner's opinion is insufficient, and further examination and analysis are needed.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for further development and compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is being reviewed again as part of this process.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been granted.,Bilateral upper extremity and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetes mellitus type II, as well as PTSD, have been dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds insufficient evidence to grant a higher rating.,Service connection for right and left knee disabilities is denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or environmental exposures.,Peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities are not service connected, with no objective evidence of peripheral neuropathy at the time of examination 25 years after service.,The Veteran's sleep disorder is not service connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that it did not manifest in service or within one year following separation and is unrelated to service.