Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, Type II diabetes mellitus (claimed as due to herbicide exposure), and a kidney disability (including tumor) due to potential errors in the audiometric evaluations and service connection determinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss was also denied due to the lack of objective audiometric findings supporting a higher rating.

The Board denied a claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support such an increase.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for service connection for lumbar spine, left foot, left knee, and right ankle disabilities are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for an ear condition due to insufficient evidence in the November 2022 VA examination report. The examiner did not provide a clear opinion on whether the Veteran's otalgia is related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability, lung disability, and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD and/or depression) due to incomplete development of stressor information.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension is denied as there is no current evidence meeting VA criteria for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss under the legacy appeals review system was dismissed due to an error in processing, as he opted into the modernized review system with a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD).

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for PTSD and hearing loss are denied as there is no evidence of a formal or informal claim prior to the date of receipt of his VA Form 21-526 EZ Fully Developed Claim on January 25, 2017.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus is also denied as he did not file a valid intent to file a claim prior to March 9, 2018. The claims are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss requires additional evidence and a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his condition.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus is remanded as there is conflicting evidence regarding the treatment regimen required due to his diabetes. A new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of his diabetes and any associated complications.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for blurred eyesight requires a VA examination to determine if it is related to service or caused by his diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD requires a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his condition since his last examination in March 2019.,The Veteran's claim for prostate discomfort requires a VA examination to determine if it is related to service or caused by his diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claims and service connection claims on appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, and the claim for a higher rating is denied. The Veteran's service-connected maxillary trauma with residuals of bone/tooth loss and pain is remanded to clarify whether it can be replaced by a prosthesis.

The Veteran's hypertension and right ear hearing loss are granted service connection, while the left ear hearing loss case is remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequacies in the VA examinations and other issues.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and service connection for lower extremity radiculopathies. The Veteran's TDIU claim remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for headaches due to incomplete development and procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and ankle disabilities due to incomplete documentation of attempts to schedule the Veteran for examinations. The Veteran's service records indicate prior hearing loss in his left ear that existed before service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's motion to vacate their decision on the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, migraine headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to a procedural error in not acknowledging an extension request. The cases are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection was granted for the right little finger fracture, but the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating due to her grip strength and functional limitations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, respiratory disability, peripheral circulatory disorder, right lower extremity neurological impairment, and left lower extremity neurological impairment due to inextricably intertwined issues remaining on appeal.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete or inadequate previous opinions.