Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss, TBI residuals, and right elbow nerve condition are related to service. The VA will obtain any outstanding treatment records and schedule the Veteran for examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected due to acoustic trauma sustained in service.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that his condition did not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on VA's tables for rating hearing loss disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial, compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted. The TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance eligibility prior to July 26, 2022 are also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating prior to January 6, 2020, and an increased rating thereafter for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI), and total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information from a previous VA examination, specifically regarding the word list used and the impact of an inability to maintain a seal during testing. The Veteran will need additional examinations to determine his current hearing loss severity.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the appellant withdrew it through his authorized representative.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability meeting VA's criteria for hearing loss.

[object Object]

The appeal for service connection for PTSD is dismissed as moot. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and obstructive sleep apnea are reopened. Service connection for high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia) is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to additional development being necessary. The Veteran's service connection claims have been denied as there is no persuasive evidence that his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to an inadequate opinion in a previous addendum, and further review is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinion regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and Meniere's disease is inadequate, necessitating a remand to obtain further clarification on whether the Veteran's conditions preexisted service or are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions in a previous examination, and an additional opinion is required regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss began in service or is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities are granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is granted at a 10 percent level. The claim of service connection for PTSD and the TDIU are also granted, with the PTSD combined with anxiety disorder resulting in a 70 percent evaluation.