Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and the motion for reconsideration remains pending.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his current disability began during service and is presumed to be service-connected. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's low back disorder is not considered to be related to his active service.,Service connection was also denied for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of hearing loss within one year post-service discharge.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied. The claim for neck disability is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus cannot be established as the evidence does not show a nexus to service or manifestation within a presumptive period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, left knee disability, low back disability, depression, anxiety, right ankle disability, and right knee disability have been denied. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the lack of an adequate VA examination at the time of his December 2022 rating decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as she does not have a current disability for VA purposes.,The Veteran's claims for cervical, hernia, and bladder conditions are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

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

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of sufficient evidence.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD, but the Board finds no evidence of a claim prior to December 8, 2017.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no diagnosis of hearing loss per VA criteria.,Remanded for further examination and opinion regarding sinus disability due to in-service exposures in Kuwait,Remanded for further examination and opinion regarding sleep apnea due to in-service exposures in Kuwait

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate opinions regarding their etiology. The AOJ must obtain an adequate opinion from a clinician regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, considering in-service puretone threshold shifts.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right knee disorders, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to incomplete documentation and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that it permanently worsened during service due to noise exposure. The Veteran's testimony and a VA audiologist's opinion support this conclusion.

The Board denied service connection for CAD, squamous cell carcinoma, and prostate cancer. The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed as it had already been granted in a prior decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU due to inadequate examination in previous remands. Another VA examination is needed to address the Veteran's reported associated symptoms of dizziness, lightheadedness, and balance issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, status post excision of cyst of left and right jaw, and lumbar spine disorder due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing audiogram results and a need for an examination regarding the Veteran's right otic fullness. The increased rating claim for bilateral hearing loss is still pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as service connected. The right hip disability issue, including whether it is caused or aggravated by a service-connected condition (specifically, the right ankle disability), is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss on an aggravation basis and right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during service.