Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board denied service connection for right hip condition, right knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision also remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for low back condition and increased rating for PTSD.

The Board dismissed the appeal because a timely substantive appeal was not filed within 60 days of the Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of adequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is related to his military noise exposure and granting an award of disability compensation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent from April 24, 2017 and continuing. The Veteran's headache disorder is granted a 50 percent rating effective August 8, 2022.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss but remanded the issue of right ear hearing loss due to a lack of an adequate VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's sensorineural hearing loss is found to be related to in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for scar, right wrist residuals of right carpal tunnel release was granted. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, left knee disability, and left carpal tunnel syndrome due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hypertension are granted, with a 40% rating for the hearing loss. The hypertension is not compensable.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance for Canadian Crutches in 2020 is being remanded due to insufficient explanation of the denial and conflicting evidence regarding use for a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher evaluation.,PTSD has been assigned an initial evaluation of 70 percent, which is not in excess of what is warranted. The Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating at any time during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss from November 30, 2018 to October 14, 2019 was denied. From October 15, 2019 to July 6, 2020, the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for BHL was also denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depression and an adjustment disorder, is found to be related to his service. Service connection for this condition is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition for VA purposes.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for various conditions, including allergic rhinitis, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, hernia condition, right ankle and leg disabilities, sinusitis, cervical spine and lumbar spine conditions, chronic heart disease, chronic heart failure, hypertension, and sleep apnea. The appeals were all denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection.

The Veteran's hearing loss was denied increased ratings prior to April 20, 2018 and from April 20, 2018 onwards. The left knee issues were also denied increased ratings.,TDIU was dismissed as the matter had been granted in full in a previous rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for vertigo and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, depression, depressive disorder with pure dysthymic syndrome and severe anxious distress), and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate evidence or need for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to obtain private medical records. The Veteran's back disability is being evaluated again, and his bilateral hearing loss is also under review.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including obtaining VA and non-VA treatment records related to the Veteran's right shoulder, right foot, right wrist, right knee, back, and hearing loss disorders.