Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has decided that more information is needed about the Veteran's hearing loss disability and its relation to service, so they have ordered a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss on a direct basis, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his in-service exposure to excessive noise trauma.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to June 7, 2021 was denied. From June 7, 2021 onwards, the Veteran is rated at 10 percent for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's diagnosed right ear sensorineural hearing loss and his service, including chronic otitis media and scarred tympanic membranes. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine this connection.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted, but his right ear hearing loss case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting new examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service stressor.,Bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not show a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete development.,Service connection is denied for left leg, left arm, and right eye vision disabilities as there is no credible evidence of their onset during service.

The Board has determined that the VA's duty to assist the Veteran was not fulfilled, and thus remanded the cases for further action. The issues of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a service-connected right knee strain, and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a service-connected left knee strain are now before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of March 19, 2010 for a 10% rating for sickle cell anemia with retinopathy was denied as there was no factually ascertainable increase in severity within the year preceding the March 19, 2010 claim.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of right and left lower extremity neuropathy were denied as they did not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 40% from July 21, 2016.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,There is no evidence of a current right foot disability or left foot disability that meets service connection requirements.,No current left knee disability has been established.,No current right hand disability has been established.,No current left hand disability has been established.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his service as an infantryman, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The bilateral hearing loss claim is remanded due to a lack of adequate medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability and the Veteran's assertions are not competent to establish such.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to unclear audiogram results and the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of an increased rating for his ear disability, to include bilateral hearing loss, due to further development and examination being necessary.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability and that any noise exposure during service did not result in a hearing impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records, specifically the audiogram results from VA treatment. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss will be reconsidered with these additional records.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the appellant's hearing impairment is fully contemplated by the schedular criteria and does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient audiometric scores and the need for a new VA audiological examination. The Veteran's assertions about his hearing loss condition are also considered.