Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and awarded a 30 percent disability rating for hiatal hernia with GERD from August 1, 2017. The Veteran's esophageal stricture is rated as noncompensable.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral nuclear sclerosis (cataracts). The appeals for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral eye disability (excluding cataracts), coronary artery disease, and hypertension are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and lumbosacral strain with DDD are all granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because he does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient rationale in the May 2018 VA examination regarding the Veteran's service connection claim. The examiner is asked to provide a new opinion addressing the Veteran's lay statements, noise exposure during service, and studies cited by the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to exposure to loud noise during active service, with the presumption of chronicity.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, left foot disability, left skin disability, and headaches due to additional development. The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is not found to be related to his claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for left hip disability and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran experienced symptoms of these conditions since separation from service.

The Board denied service connection for periodontal disease, right ear hearing loss, and granted service connection for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's gum recession was not a compensable dental disability due to lack of evidence of trauma or disease-related bone loss. Service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure leading to current hearing loss within one year post-discharge. Service connection for left ear hearing loss was granted based on the Veteran's report and a VA audiologist's opinion linking his hearing loss to service.

The Veteran's initial 10% evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is granted, but his claim for service connection of a respiratory/pulmonary disorder remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss of the right ear and left eye disability (including dry eye syndrome and myopia) are still under appeal. The VA examinations performed were not sufficient to assess the current level of severity for these conditions, thus a remand is required.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss. The case will be returned for a new audiogram and an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of a nexus opinion.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the lack of a current disability meeting VA criteria. Service connection for bilateral tinnitus was granted based on credible evidence of its onset during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service. The evidence shows that he was exposed to noise during training exercises and while operating a radio in various vehicles.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for cardiac arrhythmia, diabetes mellitus type II, and bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran withdrew his appeal through his authorized representative.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder, and traumatic brain injury due to potential errors in the previous VA examinations.

The Board has restored service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence did not clearly and unmistakably demonstrate that these conditions were not related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing disability for VA purposes.