Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for any higher rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be further developed and adjudicated.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was dismissed as the issue has been withdrawn from the legacy appeal system.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not compensable under VA rating criteria.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that his current diagnosis does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to noise exposure and there is no evidence of continuity of symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's hearing was within normal limits at both enlistment and discharge, with no significant threshold shifts noted. The examiner concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support a delayed onset of noise-induced hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current disability is related to acoustic trauma sustained during active service.

The Board has remanded the case for a medical opinion to determine if any of the claimed conditions were caused or aggravated by the Veteran's AML and/or treatments for AML prior to July 16, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertensive heart disease, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an ophthalmologic condition are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable prior to October 6, 2022 and at a 10 percent rating since that date. His allergic rhinitis was granted a 10 percent rating prior to October 7, 2022 but denied any higher rating thereafter.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to service.,A 20% disability rating for status post bilateral inguinal hernia is granted due to recurrent and reducible conditions.,Service connection for status post bilateral hydrocelectomy is denied because the condition does not meet the criteria for atrophy of both testicles.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in a VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The examiner did not address whether there was a threshold shift during service at lower frequencies and did not consider delayed onset hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and missing records, particularly regarding hearing loss and its relation to service.

The Board has decided service connection for tinnitus, but the claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to lack of examination and incomplete audiometric data.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new examination.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to September 14, 2022, and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in disability ratings beyond noncompensable.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss but has remanded the issue of service connection for lumbar spine disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and increased rating for the claimed conditions in March 2020.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disability due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as a need for advisory medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate rationale in the previous VA examination opinions. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for bone density loss is also remanded as a new medical opinion is needed.