Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 80 percent, effective from November 16, 2022. The appeal for increased ratings has been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease in-service and no showing of continuity of symptomatology since service. The Board also noted that post-service noise exposure may have contributed to the Veteran's current hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational background.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied prior to September 20, 2021. A staged initial rating of 10 percent and no higher for bilateral hearing loss from September 20, 2021, to April 19, 2022, is granted. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating after April 19, 2022, is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The hearing loss claim is reopened, but the tinnitus claim remains pending. Increased rating claims are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic pain, psoriasis, memory loss, and Bell's Palsy have been denied. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.,There is no evidence of a diagnosed condition in the record that supports these claims.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his bilateral hearing loss disability was denied. Prior to December 21, 2022, the rating assigned was noncompensable. From December 21, 2022, the rating assigned was 80 percent.

The Board denied service connection for OSA, remanded issues regarding fungal condition of the toe (aggravation), allergic rhinitis, and left ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is etiologically related to noise exposure during active service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied both claims as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for left ear hearing loss due to a lack of evidence attributing his current hearing loss to service, specifically noise exposure during military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no credible evidence to support a link between his current hearing loss and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no causal relationship between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot arthritis, diabetes mellitus type 2 (DMII), a left eye disability secondary to DMII, and polyneuropathy of bilateral feet are being remanded.,An effective date earlier than November 14, 2011, is sought for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for left thumb cut and infection, bilateral eye disorder, and nose disorder (broken nose) have been dismissed without prejudice. The nose disorder has been granted service connection.,Claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right ankle disorder, and hypertension are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss, including whether it is related to service or secondary to his service-connected left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss may have worsened since the last examination, and a new VA examination is needed to determine its current severity.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his authorized representative, and the Board is dismissing all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is remanded for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including scheduling an updated psychiatric examination for PTSD and assessing the Veteran's ability to care for daily needs due to his service-connected disabilities.