Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and ankle disorders, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The AOJ is to obtain additional medical records and schedule the Veteran for VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and tremors due to procedural errors in recognizing the Veteran's VA Form 10182. The Veteran is awaiting issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) that readjudicates all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis, sensory deficits in the left and right lower extremities, and a finding of total disability based on individual unemployability prior to September 8, 2022 have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to acoustic trauma experienced during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

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

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he withdrew his claims in a written correspondence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance regarding whether the Veteran's current condition is attributable to his in-service noise exposure. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's application to reopen the previously denied claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The claims for increased ratings for chorioretinal scarring with mild traumatic cataract and visually significant floaters [of the right eye] prior to November 21, 2019 and from November 21, 2019 were also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as it is at least as likely as not related to his service.,The Veteran's right ankle disability is granted as it is at least as likely as not related to his service.,The Veteran's bilateral athlete's foot is granted as it is at least as likely as not related to his service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated noncompensable under Diagnostic Code 6100, and the Board finds that a compensable disability rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitated the aid and attendance of another, leading to a grant of SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus, varicose veins, and bilateral hearing loss are all granted. However, the initial evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss remains at zero percent.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.,Service connection for tinnitus was also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his service-connected conditions, including hypertension and hearing loss. The issues of service connection are not addressed as the appeal is currently in a remanded status.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and its relation to service. The case will be reviewed after obtaining a new opinion from an appropriate VA clinician.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for tinnitus is denied, and his claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as 10 percent disabling since service connection was initially granted in December 2013. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any portion of the time on appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him housebound.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for tinnitus and hearing loss has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of the case.