Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been granted an initial 10 percent rating. The Board finds further development is required for the claims of service connection for right and left knee conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including rating determinations and service connection for various conditions. The case is returned to the AOJ for initial review of new evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss and has remanded his claims for higher ratings for low back disability, associated lumbar radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and other issues related to his low back.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is now rated at 70 percent effective May 27, 2021.,Service connection for residuals of fracture second vertebra, C2, cervical spine (neck) has been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination, lack of consideration of service treatment records, and in-service noise exposure. A new VA examination is required.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from December 1, 2007 to January 10, 2012 for the purposes of accrued benefits. The claim for TDIU prior to August 30, 2005 on an extraschedular basis was denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and gout (to include as secondary to the service-connected bilateral hallux valgus) due to unclear medical findings and potential interplay with TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to additional development being needed, including obtaining a clarifying medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran seeks service connection for tinnitus, which he contends was incurred in or caused by military noise exposure during basic training. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in approximate balance and grants service connection for tinnitus.,The Veteran also seeks service connection for a TBI and associated memory loss. The claims are remanded as there is no current VA examination to determine whether he has a currently-diagnosed TBI and any associated residuals, such as memory loss.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder has been granted a 70% disability rating for the initial rating period prior to January 15, 2016. The appeal regarding bilateral hearing loss and chronic fatigue syndrome is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for kidney disorder, bilateral foot disorders, and tinnitus. The claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as secondary to hearing loss. The decision is based on inadequate nexus opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions began during service.

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

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The Board has decided that a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is needed and has ordered the VA to obtain any missing audiometry test results from April 2018.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right wrist disability (other than CTS) are not service-connected. The Veteran is granted a 30 percent rating for his CTS of the left wrist from August 24, 2022, but denied higher ratings for his CTS of the right wrist and PFB.

The Board found no evidence of a skin disability related to service, and denied the claim for service connection.,There is insufficient credible evidence to establish a bilateral eye disability during or after service. The Veteran's own statements were not supported by medical records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a stomach condition. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the most recent VA examination showing Level II in the right ear and Level I in the left ear.,Service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted as secondary to service-connected lumbosacral strain.