Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss due to potential new evidence.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, numbness of the right hand, and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence indicating worsening since the last examination. Service connection is granted for sinusitis.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and clarification of the Maryland CNC speech recognition test used in his private audiological evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional medical opinions to address whether his hearing loss, tinnitus, heart disability, and right atrioventricular block are related to service. The issues remain inextricably intertwined.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and needs a new VA audiological examination with an opinion regarding the nature, etiology, onset, and aggravation of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate compliance with a previous remand, and an addendum VA medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo as a residual of traumatic brain injury and bilateral hearing loss has been granted. The case is remanded for further consideration regarding the Veteran's TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, and respiratory disorder due to unresolved issues.,Service connection is being considered on a direct basis for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable initial rating for right ear hearing loss and service connection for left ear hearing loss have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The Board has also remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a thoracolumbar spine condition, bilateral lower extremity recalcitrant sciatica, and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as there is no current disability for VA compensation purposes.,PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder are granted, with PTSD being secondary to service-connected PTSD.,Right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, sinusitis, cervical degenerative disc and joint disease (neck condition), acid reflux, chronic fatigue syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and tension headaches are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and proper documentation of attempts to schedule the Veteran for these exams.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to conflicting opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that his condition began in service and is related to his military service. The issue of bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for an ENT disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus require further development due to procedural errors. The claims are being remanded to allow for additional examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for anxiety, depression, and right ear hearing loss have been granted. The claim for left ear hearing loss has been remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss have been granted service connection. The fracture of the fourth metacarpal, left hand has not been granted a compensable rating. Service connection for right shoulder condition, right ankle injury, and left ankle injury is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for prostate cancer, and service connection for degenerative disorder were all denied. The Board found no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder with anxious distress and psychotic features was granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, chronic stage 4 kidney disease, heart disease, diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities, and diabetic neuropathy of the upper extremities were all denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and right knee condition due to a lack of adequate rationale in previous opinions, specifically regarding the possible threshold shifts during service and the Veteran's lay contentions. The claims are now being sent back for further review.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss.,The Veteran's claim for a back condition is denied due to lack of evidence of a current disability during the appeal period.,The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disability is denied because there is no current diagnosis of such a disability within the appeal period.