Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss may be related to service, but not due to his service-connected tinnitus. The case is being sent back for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his right knee, right shin, and right shoulder disabilities due to incomplete development and insufficient examination reports.

The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from October 1, 2013, to March 1, 2017, due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from working in a physical capacity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease due to Agent Orange exposure and for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not show current disabilities or in-service exposures that would support these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for TDIU and DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 due to procedural issues, including a lack of opt-in into the AMA system and requests for additional time to submit evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear audiogram data from May 2018, and additional development is needed.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential delayed manifestation of these conditions, requiring a VA examiner's review.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies in the August 2017 VA examination and opinion, requiring an additional VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss as it did not find a causal relationship to service and the condition was not shown to have manifested within one year of separation from active duty.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including bilateral foot, wrist, ankle, knee, groin injury with residual erectile dysfunction, TBI with headaches, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and bilateral hearing loss disability, have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Major Depressive Disorder and bilateral hearing loss disability, have precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since March 1, 2013. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss and left foot disability, finding no current disability meets VA criteria. The Court remanded due to inadequate examination.,The Board also found that a new adequate VA examination is needed for residuals of calcaneus stress fracture, left foot.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from June 5, 2019 to July 14, 2020. His bilateral hearing loss remains at an 80 percent rating prior to this date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded his service connection claim for diabetes mellitus, type II. The appeal is currently pending due to a need for further verification of herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus due to outstanding records and need for updated examinations.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and acne (with scarring) based on clear and unmistakable error in previous rating decisions.

The Veteran's appeals for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were dismissed due to her death.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the appropriate ratings for his service-connected conditions and to address the issues on appeal.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for right ear hearing loss requires further development and is therefore remanded.

The Veteran's claim to service connection for a back condition was reopened and granted.,Service connection is now established for lumbar spine disorder and cervical spine disorder.