Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service connected as it is due to acoustic noise trauma sustained during his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded to allow for issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

Service connection is granted for TMJ and GERD, but service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Board finds that the Veteran's currently diagnosed TMJ and GERD had their onset in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and DMII were reopened due to new evidence. The right ankle disability appeal was dismissed as the benefit sought has been granted in full. Service connection for dyslipidemia was denied because it is not a qualifying disability for VA purposes. Other issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss in the left ear was granted, as there is at least a balance of evidence to support this finding. The right ear hearing loss claim was denied due to insufficient evidence linking it to service.,Service connection for tinnitus was also granted, supported by credible statements from the Veteran regarding its onset during service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to September 30, 2022 was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss as of September 30, 2022 was also denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions including arthritis, heart condition, eye condition, insomnia, hypertension, kidney condition, hearing loss, lower back condition, cervical degenerative disc disease (claimed as neck arthritis and arthritis all systems), and depression due to new evidence being added since the last decision.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is denied as the maximum schedular rating has been assigned.,The claim for service connection for sleep apnea was previously denied, but reopened due to new and material evidence. The issue remains on appeal.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, status post left knee injury with mild arthritis, otitis media, and hearing loss are all remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is remanded as new evidence has been received. The issue remains on appeal.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded due to the inextricably intertwined nature with other issues.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and insomnia secondary to tinnitus.,The Veteran's current bilateral knee conditions are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has determined that new evidence supports reopening of these claims. The mental health disorder claim is granted as it is related to his military service.

The appeal to reduce the evaluation of bilateral hearing loss from 20% to 10% is dismissed because it was premature and not ripe for appeal.

The Veteran's service connection for chronic sinusitis is granted, but his initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board has remanded the increased rating claims for a lumbar spine disability with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded three issues: bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a respiratory condition. The reasons for this are that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error in not rescheduling the VA examinations, and that a TERA examination is needed for the tinnitus and respiratory claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, OCD, right ankle pain, left ankle pain, right foot plantar fasciitis, and left foot plantar fasciitis were denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression are currently rated as 0%.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, while his claim for kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma) was granted due to presumptive service connection under the PACT Act. The issue of service connection for kidney cancer other than under presumptive provisions is remanded.

The Veteran's initial rating for tinnitus and hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the maximum schedular rating of 10% had been assigned, and there were no new or material evidence to reopen the claims. Effective dates prior to November 13, 2013, for service connection were also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and initial ratings for his right hip strains, finding no evidence of a current disability or causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, headaches, hypertension, sleep apnea, and psychiatric disorders, were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left shoulder disabilities are remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.,Service connection for tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's now service-connected bilateral hearing loss is also granted.