Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss has not been found to meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating, as it does not exceed Level I. The Board denied an increase in his disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's decreased hearing acuity began during service and has been recurrent since then.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for erectile dysfunction due to new evidence of worsening conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board found the Veteran had BHL and remanded for a VA examination to determine its current severity. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is also remanded.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities is established, leading to the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for a skin condition, and service connection for a lower back condition are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is granted as service-connected due to an in-service injury during active duty.,The Veteran's bilateral foot numbness secondary to lumbar spine disability is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's skin disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current condition related to his military service.,The Veteran's respiratory disability is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his military service. The gap in time between service separation and the onset of symptoms is noted as a factor against granting service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's exposure to military acoustic trauma during service caused his tinnitus. Service connection was denied for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the service connection for left ear hearing loss after being granted service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations, and thus service connection was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow any form of substantially gainful employment prior to January 25, 2021.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for loss of front tooth was withdrawn.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted, with the Board finding that it is etiologically related to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the current schedular evaluations do not meet his unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The case will be referred for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted in a November 2022 rating decision, and the matter is dismissed as moot.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to March 14, 2012.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for hearing loss and tinnitus as there was a failure to comply with the duty to assist by obtaining an adequate medical opinion. The Veteran's service records indicate noise exposure, but the VA examiner did not consider this in their assessment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, including noise exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or continuity of symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to a lack of evidence linking the condition to service.