Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss prior to November 5, 2021, and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss thereafter are denied. The Veteran's residual headaches from skull fracture remain under review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and therefore service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

Service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied. The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss began during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for Graves' Disease was denied. The service connection claims for left shoulder disability and right ear hearing loss were also denied, with the latter being severed due to lack of evidence meeting VA criteria.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and left knee disorder. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral ear disability as she withdrew her appeals prior to a decision being made. The claims of service connection for multiple sclerosis, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), left knee disability, and left shoulder disability are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's preexisting left and right ear hearing loss were aggravated by service exposure to loud noise. The decision also reopened the claim due to new evidence showing a relationship between current hearing loss and service.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left ear hearing loss are inadequate, necessitating further development to determine if her hearing loss is related to service or any in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as there were no prior unadjudicated claims, and VA laws do not allow for an effective date earlier than the day following separation from service.

The Veteran's flexion contracture of the left fifth digit PIP has been granted an initial compensable rating.,Service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae is granted.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder) is denied.,Service connection for left shoulder strain is dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal on this issue.,Service connection for spinal fusion, left knee strain, status post arthroscopy, hearing loss, right side and hypertension are all remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence linking his current hearing loss to his military service or service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, right foot condition, and increased evaluation for tinnitus were dismissed. The remaining issues of service connection for various knee disabilities, shoulder conditions, and hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and to determine if a new examination is needed for the service-connected Peripheral Vestibular Disorder (PVD).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and urinary incontinence as there is no evidence of current disabilities meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, with Level I hearing acuity in both ears. The Board denied an initial compensable rating for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, and tinea versicolor have been granted initial ratings. The Veteran is still seeking higher ratings for his left shoulder disability and tinea versicolor.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,Service connection is granted for hypertension, presumed due to herbicide exposure.

Service connection is granted for hemorrhoids. Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss, chest pain, lower back condition, and cervical spine condition.,A rating higher than 10 percent for allergic rhinitis is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss but has remanded the left ear hearing loss claim due to inconsistencies in audiometric test results.

The Veteran's service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted. The issues of initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for left and right feet, as well as service connection for OSA are remanded.