Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure and has persisted since service.,Hypercholesterolemia is not considered a disability for VA compensation purposes, thus the claim cannot be granted.,There is no current diagnosis of hemorrhoids or renal dysfunction. The Veteran's complaints are deemed subjective and self-reported without objective evidence supporting these conditions.,The Veteran has bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and nephrolithiasis which were diagnosed post-service but not related to service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded as the etiology of the condition remains unclear.,Service connection for cervical spine disability (degenerative arthritis) is remanded due to insufficient evidence linking the current condition to service.,Service connection for nephrolithiasis is remanded as there are no definitive diagnoses prior to the Veteran's claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral knee strain due to lack of a current diagnosis. The issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded as additional development is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. Service connection for depression and anxiety is denied as there are no current diagnoses of these conditions. The Veteran's right hand and left hand disabilities are also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability, prostate disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to herbicide agent exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to lack of pursuit.,Service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that the condition had its onset in service or is otherwise related to military service.,New and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection of a lumbar spine condition, but the appeal remains pending.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted a 10 percent rating, but no higher. The claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has determined that additional evidence has been added to the record and requests a remand for further review of these claims. The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for consideration.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence presented in the October 2021 Informal Hearing Presentation. The Veteran's claims are now pending before the AOJ.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the Board found that her assertions regarding in-service noise exposure were not credible.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral leg vein disorder (varicose veins) was also denied. The Board concluded that she did not have a current diagnosis or functional impairment due to varicose veins, and there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to the condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed as the full benefits were granted in the AMA appeal stream, and further review is moot.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has worsened, and he needs a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his disability. The Board also requests that all relevant VA treatment records be obtained.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for various conditions related to PTSD, skin disorder, neck disorder, hand disorders, respiratory disorder, and left knee disorder have been denied. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD has also been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the etiology of any right arm neurological disability associated with his service-connected Dupuytren's nodule.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a higher rating, and has remanded for further action on his claims of service connection for back disability and bilateral knee strain.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current disability is etiologically related to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure is related to his current condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, with the claims being granted. The Board found that there is at least a reasonable possibility of establishing service connection due to continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of left ankle disability. Service connection was granted for right shoulder and thoracolumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for hypertension. The claims of service connection for hearing loss and a separate psychiatric disorder (separate from gambling disorder) are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeals regarding his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and whether new and material evidence has been received in order to reopen claims of entitlement to service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, right ankle, and left ankle disorders are dismissed due to procedural errors.