Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage standards set forth in 4.16(a) and therefore, his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate opinions and need for additional development. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including as secondary to hearing loss, are being reconsidered.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran does not have a current disability for VA purposes, with all audiometric tests showing normal hearing.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, liver disease, kidney disease, and scleroderma as there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to service. The Veteran's cause of death (pancreatitis) was not related to any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure, with no need for secondary or aggravation service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and consideration of her service-connected left ear hearing loss, PTSD, and TDIU claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The right shoulder and hearing loss cases are remanded for further examination and opinion. TDIU remains inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Board has denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine due to lack of evidence linking it to active service. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, left knee, and right hand disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as moot because he is already receiving a combined rating of 100% for his service-connected conditions, which renders the issue irrelevant.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to April 11, 2019 is being remanded due to the AOJ not complying with the Board's directives and providing incomplete evaluations. The AOJ needs to provide new assessments from examiners that consider the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his industrial functioning.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need to obtain private medical records related to the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, stroke residuals, GERD, and erectile dysfunction. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, PTSD, and sleep apnea have been denied. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.,There is no credible evidence linking the current disabilities to in-service noise exposure or other events.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vision loss, left foot condition (claimed as a bone on the top left foot that sticks out), right and left shin splints, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all remanded due to inadequate development of evidence.

The Veteran's posttraumatic headaches are rated at a 30 percent rating, effective August 26, 2018. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical evidence provided by VA during the initial review. The Veteran's current disability is conceded, but the AOJ must obtain a new opinion from a VA clinician regarding whether his hearing loss began in service or is related to noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible lay reports of in-service injuries and symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of current hearing loss sufficient for VA purposes.,Service connection was granted for the low back condition, with a diagnosis of unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board has denied the readjudication of claims for service connection for various ankle and elbow conditions, as well as left ear hearing loss. The evidence submitted did not meet the new and relevant criteria to reopen these previously denied claims.