Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's hypertension and right ear hearing loss disability were denied as they are not related to service.,Service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability was remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to additional development being necessary.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of a left foot injury with burns. Service connection is granted for tinnitus. The appeals for bilateral hearing loss, thoraco-lumbar spine disability, and headaches/migraines are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to additional relevant VA treatment records being received after the February 2020 Statement of the Case. The AOJ is required to consider this new evidence in its first instance.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral tinnitus and left ear hearing loss were denied. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent prior to December 16, 2016 for PTSD (to include substance abuse) was also denied.,No effective date was granted as the appeal period began on November 8, 2007.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, left ankle disability, and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. The left ankle disability is also granted as service-connected.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, asthma, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), epilepsy, and a neck disability due to his withdrawal at the July 2023 hearing. The Veteran's asthma was found to have existed prior to service and not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria for these conditions.,Service connection has been granted for hypertension, with the onset likely during active duty. The Veteran's psychiatric condition remains under consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear for a requested VA examination. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion on whether the current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment from December 1, 2017 to January 24, 2023.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, but denied left ear hearing loss as it did not increase in severity during active duty.,The Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is attributed to noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective date determinations are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claim for multiple myeloma was denied as the condition is asymptomatic.,Claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and cervical spine disorder based on CUE were also denied.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examination and reasoning.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection.,Respiratory conditions due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, and balance issues secondary to hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and will consider all evidence of record at the time of the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) decision on appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and gout, but granted service connection for left ear hearing loss.,Right ear hearing loss is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss was noted at entry into service and did not show an increase in severity during service, thus denying service connection.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for neck, back, hip, knee, and acquired psychiatric disorders due to incomplete records. The Veteran's STRs do not reflect injuries sustained in November 1996 during a rappelling exercise.