Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the condition. The Veteran's extensive reserve service is noted, but an addendum opinion is needed to consider this factor.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service and concluding that the Veteran's hearing loss is more likely due to post-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including ED, bilateral hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities, were denied. The Board found no evidence of a penile deformity or other qualifying condition to warrant a compensable rating for ED. For bilateral hearing loss, the Board determined that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a greater than 10 percent rating from January 27, 2022 to April 9, 2022 and was denied a compensable rating thereafter.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a duodenal ulcer, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus has been granted. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.,The appeal for service connection for pulmonary embolus is remanded.,The appeal for service connection for deep vein thrombosis and venous embolism and thrombosis of the right lower extremity is remanded.,The appeal for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is remanded.,The appeal for service connection for a disability of the right knee is remanded.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a TBI, with residuals are both remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The appeal for an earlier effective date prior to September 11, 2013 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,New and material evidence has not been received sufficient to reopen the claim for Parkinson's Disease.,New and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen the claim for a heart condition. Service connection is granted pursuant to the PACT Act.,New and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities (excluding chondromalacia) have been denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.,Service connection was granted for right knee chondromalacia, but the Veteran's claims for other knee disabilities remain on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a disability.,The earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus prior to July 9, 2018, is denied due to lack of evidence showing an increase in severity within one year prior to the claim.,The earlier effective date for the increased rating of the headache disability prior to July 9, 2018, is denied as there is no evidence of an ascertainable increase in severity within one year prior to the claim.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for her headache disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate etiological opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. A new addendum opinion is needed from an appropriate clinician.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and flat feet, and remanded the issue of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for hematuria. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion are inadequate, and thus remanded for further action to obtain a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and asbestosis, and has remanded the issue of service connection for Meniere's Disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that his preexisting condition did not worsen during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic hearing loss disorder in active-duty service or within one year thereafter. The Board also found that the Veteran's current hearing loss was not related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The appeal regarding entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to determine the cause and nature of the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability, as the February 2016 VA examiner did not address relevant in-service audiometer results from July 1974 showing elevated puretone thresholds.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during the appeal period.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his residual scar of the left index finger was also denied due to lack of evidence showing that the condition resulted in any disabling effects not already contemplated by the rating criteria.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected, with the condition believed to be related to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for Hodgkin's disease and hypothyroidism are denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left and right elbow disabilities, left and right wrist disabilities, and chronic fatigue syndrome. However, the Veteran was granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (unspecified anxiety and insomnia disorder).