Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate these claims.

The Board denied reopening service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, hypertension, tinnitus, kidney disease, and a heart disorder (to include coronary artery disease or ischemic heart disease). Service connection was granted for hypertension based on the PACT Act presumption of herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss did not have an onset in service or during a presumptive period after service. The Board also found no evidence linking his current hearing loss to noise exposure during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus claim was denied, while his psychiatric disability, hearing loss, lung disability, hypertension, left leg disability, CVA residuals, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability claims are being remanded.

The Veteran was granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the period prior to March 31, 2015 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure is linked to his current conditions.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disorders and hypertension. The appeals for bilateral hearing loss and cytomegalovirus and transverse myelitis are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the claim for an increased rating for PTSD remains denied.,PTSD was previously granted a 70% disability rating effective October 11, 2016. The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date, which has been denied.,The Veteran's back disability is rated as 20%, and the claim for a higher initial rating remains denied.,TDIU prior to October 11, 2016, was previously denied, and this issue remains unresolved.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that he does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss and that his claimed condition is not related to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore denied his claim of service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to service connection and disability ratings, effectively dismissing the appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for hearing loss, dizziness/vertigo, and a psychiatric disorder. The claims are not decided at this time.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset of these conditions during service or their relationship to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to March 30, 2018, on an extraschedular basis due to the evidence not showing that his service-connected disabilities alone rendered him unemployable.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one must be conducted.

The Board has granted a TDIU prior to January 24, 2020 due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other disabilities. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU from January 24, 2020 is remanded as it involves a schedular 100% rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and his TDIU claim are both remanded due to the need for additional treatment records and an examination.