Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right hand disability, or left hand disability for VA purposes.,As such, the claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was granted, while the claims for bilateral hearing loss and anxiety/depression were remanded.,Bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria. Anxiety/depression is remanded to determine its relationship to service-connected hypothyroidism.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability rating under VA regulations.,PTSD and GAD are currently rated at 50 percent prior to March 25, 2019. The Veteran is seeking a higher rating.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for a right knee disability and various hearing loss/tinnitus conditions. The main reason is that there are missing service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and requests that he provide additional medical records. The claims will be reconsidered with the new information.

The Veteran's appeal on the issue of a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to voluntary withdrawal by the appellant.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted a TDIU from January 22, 2019 through October 19, 2020.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to scheduling conflicts and missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a thyroid disability, respiratory disability, and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss disability rated as 30 percent prior to June 6, 2003, and as 40 percent thereafter, to include on an extraschedular basis have been dismissed.,The RO reduced the Veteran's disability rating for renal dysfunction with hypertension from 30 percent to 0 percent effective April 20, 2022. The reduction was deemed improper.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability, finding that he did not have a current disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and his current condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus claims are remanded for further action due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to outstanding private treatment records and need for additional medical opinions regarding his lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability and remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 0 percent, the lowest possible rating. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current level of hearing acuity.

The appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is dismissed. The claims for lower back disability and neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure history and medical opinions.

Service connection for left ear hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, and diabetes mellitus is denied.,The Veteran's psychiatric disability (other than PTSD) was granted an initial 70 percent evaluation.