Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected radiculopathy, right sciatic nerve, left sciatic nerve, hemorrhoids, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, kidney stones, lip numbness, and gastrointestinal disorders have been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his hearing loss did not begin in service or shortly after service and is otherwise unrelated to service.

The Board denied service connection for right and left ear hearing loss disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing the presence of current disability during or within one year after service, as well as no medical opinion linking these disabilities to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of initial and non-initial ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with spondylolisthesis with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, as well as a non-initial rating for spondylolisthesis with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's claims are remanded due to the need for new examinations.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to a compensable disability rating prior to August 13, 2021, for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 50 percent from August 13, 2021, for bilateral hearing loss. The issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to August 13, 2021, is also remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated noncompensable (zero percent) from September 12, 2017 to January 23, 2019 and 10 percent thereafter. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to new evidence being added after the most recent Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that remand is necessary to obtain private audiometric records and additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea. The hearing loss claim remains on appeal, while the service connection for sleep apnea will be addressed again.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied in a March 2010 rating decision. The claim for an acquired mental health disorder was reopened due to new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The Board finds that a more thorough examination is required to determine if there is a link between current hearing loss or tinnitus and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to September 23, 2013 is denied as the evidence does not show that his service-connected disabilities alone precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

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

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to noise exposure during his active military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, MDD, PTSD, GERD, migraine headaches, sarcoidosis, and skin lesions/lesions on back are remanded.,An effective date prior to March 10, 2016 for the grants of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for headaches, a right ankle condition, vertigo (claimed as dizziness), a right hip condition, and right ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA treatment records from July 2019 to the present. The Veteran is free to file a separate claim for tinnitus if he wishes.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected. The remaining issues of service connection for back, left shoulder, right ankle, and left foot/toe disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened and granted as it is at least as likely as not related to service-connected depressive disorder.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of current disability, with no evidence showing a compensable degree of hearing loss within one year after discharge from service.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's stomach condition is remanded to obtain an opinion regarding direct service connection and secondary service connection.