Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, service connection for a left knee disability, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric condition. The Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, fibromyalgia, and a low back disability has been granted. The claims are now remanded for further development.,Service connection is being granted for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for abrasion right leg is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of evidence of a disability during service and post-service. The Veteran has not been provided with an examination related to this issue.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on in-service exposure to noise and the Veteran's report of onset during service.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD and a higher rating for his PTSD. The Board has determined that additional examination is needed to assess the current severity of his PTSD.,The Veteran also seeks an earlier effective date for TDIU, which was granted as of March 1, 2012.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional development and examination of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service noise exposure and granting him the benefit of the doubt.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical opinions and additional development is required.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of an addendum opinion addressing a medical article submitted by the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hand joint disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to clarify the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA), inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA), and 'full-time duty' under the provisions of 32 U.S.C. § ¶ 316, 502, 503, 504, or 505 during his service. The Board also notes that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's skin condition, as well as opinions regarding the relationship between his neck condition and right shoulder condition with his service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to a reasonable raise in the issue of entitlement to SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is considered, but the exact date when this need arose prior to November 1, 2017, needs further clarification.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sinusitis, finding no current disability in either condition. The denial is based on the absence of proof of a present disability.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to June 10, 2022 was denied. A 10 percent rating is granted from that date.,Service connection for a right upper extremity neurological disorder and a left upper extremity neurological disorder are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes, and thus denied his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current hearing loss and his military service.,The Board also denied service connection for enlarged prostate, diagnosed as benign prostatic hypertrophy, concluding that there was no evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold requirements for TDIU, and they do not render him unemployable on an extraschedular basis for the rating period prior to September 29, 2014.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability due to inadequate opinions provided in previous VA examinations. The new opinion is required to address changes in audiometric thresholds between the entrance and separation examinations, as well as lay evidence regarding the onset of symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to June 30, 2016 due to insufficient evidence regarding his employment history and inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further evaluation of service connection for hyperlipidemia and bilateral hearing loss, as there is insufficient evidence to determine if these conditions are related to active service.