Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran withdrew his claims of service connection for all listed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for left ear high frequency sensorineural hearing loss and a higher initial rating for right knee strain was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support ratings higher than noncompensable.

The Veteran is granted a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, effective August 14, 2017. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has not met the criteria for a compensable rating, as his audiometric evaluations have consistently shown Level II hearing impairment in both ears.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to July 31, 2015 was denied as her service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular threshold percentage requirements for consideration of a TDIU.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes, do not meet the schedular or extraschedular criteria for a TDIU prior to March 23, 2021. The VA Director of Compensation Service concluded that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's headaches are part of his service-connected undiagnosed illness/chronic fatigue syndrome and cannot be separated as a separate disability.,Bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is not related to the Veteran's service-connected undiagnosed illness/chronic fatigue syndrome, but rather is a separate condition that requires further examination for etiology.,The Veteran's back condition may be related to his military service and cumulative parachute jumps, but needs further examination to determine its etiology.,Service connection for a sleep disorder cannot be established without evidence linking the condition to the Veteran's military service. The Veteran's conceded noise exposure is also relevant.,Bilateral hearing loss requires further examination due to the Veteran's conceded noise exposure in service.,The right eye condition may be related to the Veteran's military service, particularly his conceded toxic exposure from Gulf War service.,Service connection for GERD and hiatal hernia cannot be established without evidence linking the conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with its prior remand and thus the case must be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of service connection for low back disorder, neck disorder, nerve damage in the back, and bilateral lower extremity sciatica and nerve damage have been remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, type II and erectile dysfunction, have been rated. The Board finds that the current evaluations do not accurately reflect the severity of his conditions and remands for further examinations to determine appropriate ratings.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to December 9, 2021, and a rating in excess of 20 percent thereafter is denied. The claim for an initial disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD is remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss due to new and material evidence, but has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if his hearing loss is related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as service-connected.,For the entire rating period on appeal, a 40 percent rating for lumbar spine disability is granted. However, beginning May 29, 2014, a higher rating than 40 percent is denied.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess its current severity.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the November 2016 VA audiological examination and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT) disease. The appeal is also remanded for further development on other issues.

The Board has decided that the issue of service connection for hearing loss should be remanded due to new evidence being added to the file.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has resulted in no worse than Level II hearing acuity in the right ear and Level IV hearing acuity in the left ear, warranting a 0 percent rating under Code 6100. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.