Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to newly received evidence that was not considered in the previous decision. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his high frequency sensorineural hearing loss will be reconsidered with this new information.

The Board has remanded the claims for visual impairment, hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disorder due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations. The Veteran's service connection claims are being reviewed again with new evidence considered.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military noise exposure during basic training.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent prior to August 11, 2020, and the Board found no evidence of entitlement to a higher rating. The claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective May 5, 2015. A TDIU is granted as of the same date. The Veteran also receives a 30 percent rating for laryngitis and a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss. However, an extraschedular TDIU prior to May 5, 2015 remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability of hearing loss for VA purposes and there was no evidence linking his hearing loss to service.

The Veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a higher rating from January 29, 2016 to August 21, 2022.,From August 22, 2022 to the present, the Veteran's PTSD also did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a respiratory disorder (COPD) and gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,Service connection is sought for a respiratory disorder, including as due to herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran's service records show he had upper respiratory infections in 1970 and 1972, which may be related to his current COPD diagnosis.,The Veteran seeks service connection for GERD, claiming it developed from his service-connected disabilities or due to herbicide agent exposure. A VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of his gastrointestinal disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and service, as well as its relation to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for high frequency sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus due to additional relevant VA treatment records being associated with the file after the issuance of the September 2022 supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to April 13, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for a compensable rating for left inguinal hernia and service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to additional relevant VA treatment records being associated with the file after the issuance of the September 2020 statement of the case. The AOJ is required to issue an SSOC considering this new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional records. The Veteran's hearing loss is conceded, but there is no direct evidence linking it to service exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, rhinitis, eye disorder, bilateral hearing loss, bladder disorder, right hip disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, and skin rash disorder have all been denied. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with the VA finding that his impairment does not warrant a higher rating based on current clinical findings and audiometric testing.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for left ear hearing loss and left shoulder degenerative arthritis with scar are denied. The case is remanded due to the need for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for a back disability and left ear hearing loss need further development due to incomplete verification of the Appellant's periods of active duty, training, or inactive duty. The VA examinations performed were inadequate as they did not consider the Veteran's lay assertions regarding symptom onset and continuity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss was reopened and granted. The Board also found that the Veteran had continuous symptoms of right ear hearing loss since his separation from service, allowing for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b). However, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. Bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional development.