Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case for a new examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy in the lower extremities.

The Veteran's lower back disability is denied as it did not manifest in service or for years thereafter and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active service.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current degree of hearing loss that constitutes a disability under VA regulations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new examination of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted a 20 percent rating prior to July 16, 2020 and denied for ratings in excess of 20 percent thereafter. Other issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and right ankle disorder are denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,Service connection for sinusitis is also denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability needs to be further evaluated and remanded for a VA audiology examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran developed this condition during his period of active duty. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to the evidence being in equipoise.,Other issues related to hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, hip and knee disabilities, foot disabilities, seizure disorder, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, kidney disability, eye disability, and hepatitis are remanded for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of service connection for a back condition, bilateral knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep disturbances.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they are related to service, but further development is needed to verify his periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence received, but it is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been decided. The rating for dry skin syndrome - dermatoheliosis and actinic keratosis remains at 10 percent, while the issues of service connection for cervical strain (neck disability), traumatic brain injury, headache, left TMJ, right ear otalgia, hearing loss, and tinnitus have all been addressed.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to outstanding private treatment records not being obtained. The Veteran's conditions are related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability with degenerative arthritis. The initial compensable rating claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, but he was granted a staged initial disability rating of 70 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder prior to June 28, 2023. The Veteran's TMJ dysfunction and bilateral hearing loss are each rated at 20 percent. The skin disorder affecting the feet and hands is not service connected.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment prior to February 24, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including consideration of newly-obtained service records and medical opinions. The appellant's current hearing loss disability does not meet VA criteria for a hearing loss disability. For other conditions, the Board finds that there is no evidence to support their onset in service or relationship to service.

The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for a low back condition is denied.,The claims for service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and left ankle conditions are remanded.,The claim for service connection for acid reflux (GERD) is remanded.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,A 30 percent rating for chronic motion sickness is granted.,Service connection for a heart disability is denied.,Service connection for varicose veins is denied.,Service connection for bilateral flat feet and bilateral upper calf neuropathy are precluded due to lack of service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's claim for sleep apnea, lumbar spine disorder, and other issues is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 21, 2022. The Board has found that the evidence is in at least approximate balance and any remaining reasonable doubt is resolved in favor of the Veteran. TDIU is granted prior to October 21, 2022.