Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of the lumbosacral spine and tinnitus have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, pes planus, and bunions of the feet were denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected. The Board has withdrawn the issue of service connection for a bilateral eye condition due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The issues of service connection for left knee, bilateral foot, and hemorrhoids conditions secondary to service-connected disabilities have been remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims of radiculopathy, left leg and right leg, as well as tinnitus. The Veteran's claims are being returned to VA for further development.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for a foot disability, to include flat feet, is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss is etiologically linked to his active-duty service.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied.,An initial 10 percent disability rating, but no higher, for service-connected hepatitis C is granted prior to December 13, 2021. A disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected hepatitis C from December 13, 2021, forward is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a back disorder remains pending and requires further development.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability. The issue of TDIU is withdrawn and dismissed.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records, scheduling VA examinations, and providing an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for a right ankle disorder was granted. Service connection for erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, and neurological disorders were also granted. The rating for back disability is set at 20 percent effective April 11, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased evaluations have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal.,The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection, effective dates, and evaluations.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, initial compensable rating for migraine headaches, and TDIU. The claims are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted as his symptoms have been continuous since service and he has experienced a continuity of symptomology.

The Board has decided that service connection for tinnitus is granted, but the decision on hearing loss remains pending as it was not fully addressed in the original decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted service connection, but his right knee disability and temporary total rating for left knee surgery are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a disability rating of 50 percent, but no higher. The left ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. Multiple service connection claims are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not begin during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral hearing loss disability as they are all covered by the March 2023 rating decision.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disability manifested by pain is granted as service connection, but his right ear hearing loss and bilateral leg disability (claimed as shin splints) are denied. The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral leg disability and residuals of TBI.,Service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is also remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for PTSD. The decision is binding only with respect to the specific matters decided.