Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board denied service connection for Parkinson's disease and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss as there is no evidence that it began during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The most probative evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, right and left knee disabilities due to incomplete compliance with prior remand directives. The RO is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service connected, but his initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating prior to April 18, 2019, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter for bilateral hearing loss, as well as his claim for service connection for a right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been granted, and a 100% disability rating is assigned effective from May 3, 2018. Claims for other conditions remain denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, eczema, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and alcohol use disorder) due to inadequate medical opinions and missing military personnel records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as not related to service.,The Veteran's heat-related disability, including heat exhaustion and heat rash, was remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to February 29, 2016. The Board referred the issue of entitlement to a TDIU to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have been rated at the maximum schedular disability rating of 50 percent since July 12, 2010. Additionally, from July 12, 2010, a TDIU has also been granted due to the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for an enlarged heart disability and right ear hearing loss disability have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are more likely than not caused by military noise exposure. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder), substance abuse disorder, hepatitis C, and hypertension remain remanded due to incomplete verification of in-service stressors and potential herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of stress fractures (shin splints) bilateral due to conflicting evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's representative cited a more recent article suggesting delayed onset hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Board finds that additional development is necessary for the remaining issues, including obtaining complete STRs and VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hot flashes, related to in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, was denied. The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current hot flashes to his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied. The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a higher than 30 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for hearing loss, service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as his TDIU claim due to inextricability with other issues.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to be at most Level III in the right ear and Level V in the left ear, which corresponds to a 10 percent rating. The Board denied entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for the period prior to August 26, 2021, and denied entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for the period from August 26, 2021.

The Board has reinstated the Veteran's appeal due to a timely filed VA Form 9. The appeal is remanded for further examination and evaluation regarding service connection for right ear hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in a 70% rating, effective September 24, 2014. The Board also granted a TDIU for the entire initial rating period on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine with spinal stenosis have been reopened. The case is remanded to obtain a new VA examination for both conditions, as well as to obtain updated treatment records and determine if a TDIU should be granted.