Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure. The VA examiner did not consider the Veteran's reports of post-service noise exposure and civilian occupation.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including a new VA examination for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD. The TDIU issue is also inextricably intertwined with the PTSD rating issue.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his bilateral foot disabilities, precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's reduction in the rating for bilateral hearing loss from 70 percent to 10 percent was improper, and his prior 70 percent rating is restored. The Veteran's claim of a rating in excess of 70 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied. His claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertensive vascular disease, prostate cancer, cervical spine disorder (arthritis), and PTSD have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals.,The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that he does not have a current disability as defined by VA standards.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% since the beginning of his claim, and he has a 100% combined rating for COPD and other service-connected disabilities. His bilateral hearing loss and CAD are both rated below their maximum possible ratings.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and in-service noise exposure, occupational noise exposure, and meningitis. The case will be returned for a new VA medical opinion.

The Board denied an increased rating for the service-connected sensorineural left ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a higher disability rating. The right ear hearing loss claim is pending as it has not been developed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder was granted. However, his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss was granted. However, the claim for service connection for vertigo, to include as secondary to hearing loss and/or tinnitus, was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a right eye disorder is being remanded for additional development.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection in multiple conditions, including lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right eye macular degeneration, right knee disorder, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss. The earliest effective date assigned was January 14, 2014.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with its July 2020 remand directives, necessitating another remand for further development of the TDIU claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU, but his unemployability due to PTSD warrants extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The case for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of current authorization forms for private audiologist records, and the need to determine if the Maryland CNC speech test was conducted during any examinations.