Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral flat feet, bilateral heel spurs, low back disability, left knee disability, and neck disability. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and opinion.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). The hypertension claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence of current severity.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to new evidence received after the issuance of the Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has granted an effective date of April 25, 2015 for the award of a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the initial rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded due to incomplete examination results. The matter of TDIU, which is inextricably intertwined with the hearing loss claim, is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA audiological examination, and a new one is required for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection and a separate rating for tinnitus was denied. He is currently rated at 100% for peripheral vestibular disorder with hearing loss, tinnitus, and oscillopsia associated with bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure causing current hearing loss.

The Veteran's initial and continued noncompensable ratings for right ear hearing loss (prior to May 14, 2022) and bilateral hearing loss (since May 14, 2022) have been denied.,The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but remanded the issue of right ear hearing loss due to potential worsening and need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable for the period beginning October 19, 2020. The Board found that his hearing acuity did not meet criteria for a compensable rating under VA's Rating Schedule.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and has determined that he meets the criteria for service connection based on evidence showing a current disability, in-service noise exposure, and a causal relationship between the current disability and military service.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for right ear hearing loss due to inadequate opinion and failure to consider all relevant evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum VA medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn led to his Type II diabetes mellitus.

All issues related to service connection have been either granted in full or finally denied by the Board without subsequent appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete development of records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, granted under the PACT Act, is upheld. His initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to September 23, 2019, and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter are denied. A separate 40 percent rating for TBI residuals apart from PTSD with TBI residuals is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is at least as likely as not caused by military service. The decision is based on a VA examination conducted in December 2022.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, high blood pressure (hypertension), and several other conditions due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.,Service connection was not granted as there is no medical evidence showing that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated during the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for an increased rating for coronary artery disease and a TDIU. The effective date of service connection remains April 10, 2018.