Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun during service and granted service connection.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it began in or was related to service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, bilateral pes planus, degenerative arthritis with instability of the left knee, and degenerative arthritis with instability of the right knee are all granted service connection. The Veteran's tinnitus is also granted service connection.,However, chronic fatigue syndrome, right ear hearing loss, a right ankle disorder, and a left ankle disorder remain pending for further review.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 18, 2012 for a TDIU rating due to bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claim was filed within one year of the October 2013 rating decision.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss and has remanded the issue of an initial compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and cardiovascular residuals of shrapnel to the heart have been remanded due to incomplete development. The Board found that there is no evidence of service connection for kidney disease, hypertension, or lung disability, nor was there any indication of secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating, and the persuasive evidence of record is against a finding that his service-connected disabilities were of such nature and severity as to preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The Veteran is also seeking secondary service connection for his acquired psychiatric disorder related to his service-connected lung cancer.

The Veteran requested to withdraw their appeals for the issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, right wrist condition, right shoulder condition, left knee condition, and low back condition. The Board has dismissed these appeals as per the Veteran's request.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with its previous remand directives and the matter must be remanded once again due to the failure of VA to obtain VA examinations or medical opinions for the Veteran's lumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, as he has not provided the necessary information for VA to determine his employability status.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The Veteran's PTSD remains at a 70% rating, but the claim for an increased rating in excess of 70% is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss. The VA examiner is asked to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's current right-ear hearing loss first manifested in or is otherwise due to service, including his inservice noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability. The claims of service connection for prostate cancer, impotence, and acquired psychiatric disability (secondary to prostate cancer) are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back disability and dysthymic disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since May 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and examination to determine the severity of his right foot disability, as well as the etiology of his claimed TBI, neck, and nose disabilities. The claims for service connection are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and eye disability, specifically glaucoma. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for additional development including obtaining missing service records and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's balanitis is granted as secondary to his service-connected prostate cancer status post radical prostatectomy. The rating for bilateral hearing loss remains at 10 percent, but the issue of a higher rating is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

Your claim for service connection for hearing loss in your right ear has already been granted. As this benefit was fully granted, the appeal is dismissed as moot.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing impairment is at least as likely as not related to his in-service hazardous noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as he died during its pendency.