Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is denied, but service connection for tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure is granted. The Board grants secondary service connection for RIGHT shoulder impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tendonitis, and subacromial / subdeltoid bursitis with greater tuberosity malunion as a result of his service-connected bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating was implicitly denied in the March 2012 rating decision, as the RO considered his employment difficulties and awarded a 70% disability rating for PTSD. The effective date of this decision is not specified.

The Board has decided that service connection for tinnitus is granted, but the decision on bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to a lack of adequate medical opinion.

The Board has restored a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, effective October 1, 2021. The reduction from 30 to 20 percent was not supported by evidence showing actual improvement in the condition under ordinary conditions of life.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lung cancer in remission, prostate cancer (remission), tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, myocardial infarction, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted the TDIU on a schedular basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as he does not have a current disability, and his evidence did not meet the threshold requirements of VA compensation purposes.

The appellant has withdrawn his appeals for the claims of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disability, and left foot disability. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for service connection for various conditions, including plantar fasciitis with pes planus, sinusitis, left varicose veins, right varicose veins, allergic rhinitis, and bilateral hearing loss. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were found to have their onset during active-duty service, meeting the criteria for service connection.,There is no evidence of TBI or its residuals at any time during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete development, including not obtaining authorization for related private treatment records and failing to discuss the Veteran's statements regarding the onset and continuity of his conditions.

The Veteran's left ring finger disability, tinnitus, and hearing loss are all granted. The left ring finger disability is found to have been aggravated by service. Tinnitus was incurred in service. Hearing loss is denied as it did not manifest within the first year after separation from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, so the case is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise regarding whether these conditions were caused by or incurred during military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his pre-existing hearing loss was aggravated by noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to a lack of consideration of delayed-onset hearing loss and noise exposure in the initial opinion. The Board will seek an addendum opinion from the examiner.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted due to new and relevant evidence received, but the issue remains remanded as there was no finding of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 20 percent from May 20, 2016 to August 31, 2020 and increased to 40 percent on September 1, 2020.