Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to missing authorization for a private provider's April 2018 audiological testing, and the Veteran is asked to provide it.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right ankle disorder are not service-connected. The claims for these conditions have been remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disability and granted service connection for left ear hearing loss. The neck disability claim is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including a lumbar disorder, dental disorders, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, insomnia, and anxiety), headaches, and dry eye syndrome.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since November 8, 2010. Effective from that date, he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to January 31, 2017, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected.,Service connection for PTSD is remanded due to a procedural issue.

The appeal for higher rating of bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a concussion condition is denied, and his hypertension is granted with a 10% rating. The right lower extremity issue is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence being associated with the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or onset of symptoms.,Both conditions were determined to be not caused by or incurred during military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and rating for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, headaches, PTSD, OSA with asthma, patellar tendinitis, left ankle strain, and tinnitus. The AOJ is instructed to review all relevant evidence and issue a SSOC.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, Meniere's disease, diabetes, tendonitis of the right wrist, mild osteoarthritis of the left knee, and mild osteoarthritis of the right knee, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to November 6, 2015. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective May 15, 2018. The Board found that the earlier effective date of January 30, 2018, is warranted due to his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as 10 percent from February 26, 2020 to August 17, 2021 and 50 percent after that date. The appeal is denied for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete VA examination. The Veteran's testimony regarding hearing loss symptoms during service and after separation is not considered in the current examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and perianal abscess were remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and left knee degenerative joint disease have been remanded due to the need for further evaluation. The lumbar spine disability claim is also pending.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal for the service connection claims related to bilateral knee disorders, hearing loss, tinnitus, hemorrhoids, and eye/vision disorders. The Board dismissed these issues as a result.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear and right ear hearing loss due to incomplete records and failure to comply with prior remand directives.