Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service due to noise exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and unilateral inguinal hernia as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been reopened, and the case is being remanded to obtain a new VA opinion regarding the etiology of his hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a chronic lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, and respiratory disability due to incomplete records and the need for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as he possessed the educational background and experience to engage in such employment.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal in its entirety prior to the promulgation of a decision, leaving no issues for further consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not found to be service-connected, as the evidence did not show that it occurred in or was caused by his active duty service.,Service connection for left and right thumb disorders were denied because there was no established diagnosis of these conditions during service or at any time thereafter. The Veteran's current diagnoses do not appear to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, and right wrist strain or CTS have been granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle condition is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, low back disability, variously diagnosed psychiatric disorder (PTSD and major depression), hypertension, and left ear hearing loss. The maximum schedular rating of 10% is assigned for tinnitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for antisocial personality disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee arthritis due to a finding that these conditions are not diseases or injuries subject to service connection.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) is denied as his condition does not warrant a higher than 30 percent rating. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is also denied, as it has been rated at the lowest possible level of noncompensable.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn by his authorized representative. The claim was previously denied, but a new rating decision in June 2022 granted a 40% rating.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The appeal regarding PTSD resulted in a grant of a 70% rating but denial for an earlier effective date and higher rating.,Sleep apnea was remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings for frostbite of the upper and lower extremities, as well as hearing loss, have been granted. The effective dates are not specified.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of service connection for left ear hearing loss as it was granted in an earlier decision and no further action is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claim for residuals of traumatic brain injury is remanded to obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is dismissed because the Veteran failed to report for a necessary VA examination. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to his failure to provide good cause for missing the scheduled examination.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining and maintaining substantial gainful employment.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss rating was restored to 20 percent effective October 22, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability due to a lack of audiometric test results from February 2023.