Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no current disability during or approximate to the appeal period. The claim for a psychiatric disability was also denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,Service connection cannot be granted because there is no established link between any current disabilities and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal was improperly docketed under the AMA framework and should be returned to the Legacy system for further processing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional audiogram results and updated VA examinations. The claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tension headaches, and TBI are all being remanded.

The Veteran withdrew all remaining issues from his appeal, including those related to TDIU and DEA effective dates. The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as he does not have a disability for VA purposes.,A rating of 20 percent for the low back disability, effective June 5, 2012, is granted. The issue of a higher rating in excess of 20 percent remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability. The claims are being returned to VA for additional evaluations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to inconsistencies in the severity of his condition and the need to obtain a missing audiogram.

The Board has remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate VA medical opinions and the need for additional development. The Veteran's service connection claim is based on in-service noise exposure, but the VA examiners' opinions are deemed insufficient.

The Veteran's recurrent abscess of the right inguinal region has been granted service connection. The left ankle disorder, heart disease (claimed as hyperlipidemia), hypertension, and lazy eye have all been remanded for further review.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to incomplete service treatment records and missing accident reports. The appellant's claims for back condition and hearing loss are being reviewed again.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of evidence meeting VA criteria for a disability.,The back disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The right lower extremity non-traumatic compartment syndrome is remanded for further evaluation.,The left lower extremity non-traumatic compartment syndrome is also remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, with the effective date being January 14, 2021.,The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 12, 2021, and a rating in excess of 40 percent from that date onwards are both remanded.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he is deceased.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were reopened, with the new evidence showing a relationship to service. The claim for back condition was denied.,Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but not for the back condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss is not related to in-service noise exposure and assigning no probative value to the Veteran's lay assertions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the cases of obstructive sleep apnea, dental condition, hypertension, left eye disability, low back disability, esophageal hernia, and cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's rating for bilateral hearing loss was reduced from 20 percent to 0 percent, but this reduction is void ab initio due to procedural errors. The case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The hearing loss rating issue is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss did not manifest within one year of separation from service and is not etiologically related to service. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for a back disability.,For the back disability, the Board found insufficient evidence in the November 2022 VA examination to determine if it was incurred or caused by military service.

The Veteran's cause of death is granted due to his service-connected coronary artery disease and diabetes, which materially contributed to his death. However, DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied as the Veteran did not meet the requirements for a total disability rating at any point prior to his death.