Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted as of March 12, 2018. The effective date for the grant of service connection for hypertension was March 11, 2022.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome was granted a 40% rating effective June 12, 2012.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted effective January 18, 2012.

The Board has found service connection for tinnitus granted, but the case is remanded for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at a noncompensable disability rating from March 18, 2008 to January 8, 2015 and granted a 10% disability rating effective November 9, 2001 for his left ear hearing loss and April 23, 2007 for his right ear hearing loss. The Veteran is seeking a 10% disability rating from March 18, 2008 to January 8, 2015.,The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis with DDD was rated at a noncompensable disability rating prior to October 19, 2020 and denied an increased rating. The Veteran is seeking a 40% disability rating from April 7, 2016.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connection was established due to aggravation of a pre-existing condition in service and exposure to acoustic trauma during active duty.

The Board has denied service connection for gout but remanded the issues of bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted (gout) while others were not (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus).

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to unclear etiology, requiring further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for an initial compensable rating and a more than 30 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the failure to appear for VA examinations. The Board will provide another opportunity for the Veteran to attend the requested VA examination.

Service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for colitis, ileostomy reversal, ventral hernia, hemorrhoids, and cellulitis are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to additional evidence being added to the claims file.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for prostate cancer residuals between January 30, 2018 to January 14, 2020 was denied. The claim for bilateral hearing loss disability was also denied.

The Veteran's increased rating for a neck disability is granted effective May 9, 2016. The grants of service connection for left knee and right upper extremity radiculopathy are denied prior to the dates indicated. Tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are rated as they currently stand.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the claims of service connection for various disorders, including foot fungus, nose disorder, back disorder, asthma, psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and hearing loss. The appeals are being remanded to obtain clarification on private treatment records and to schedule VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to a disagreement over whether the Veteran currently meets the regulatory standard for a hearing loss disability for VA purposes, which is necessary for granting service connection. The case will be returned to obtain any outstanding medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal should be re-docketed under the Legacy system and her April 2019 VA Form 10182 is accepted as a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) for the issues on appeal. The issues will not be returned to the Board unless she perfects an appeal by filing a timely VA Form 9.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been fully granted in a June 2023 rating decision, resulting in the dismissal of these issues.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity has not met the criteria, leading to its denial. The same applies to his claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and his active-duty service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was previously denied in May 2007. The reopened claim remains denied due to lack of evidence linking the Veteran's current hearing loss to his military service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for poor vision (claimed as partial blindness in both eyes) was reopened but remains denied because there is no evidence showing a nexus between the condition and his active-duty service or another service-connected disability.,Service connection for renal failure was previously denied. The reopened claim remains denied due to lack of evidence linking the Veteran's current renal failure to his military service, including toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was previously denied. The reopened claim remains denied as there is no evidence showing a nexus between the condition and his active-duty service or another service-connected disability.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 7, 2023 is denied. A 60 percent rating has been assigned since that date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left hip and left knee disabilities, finding no evidence of a current disability. The case is remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service or secondary to other service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety disorder, diabetes, basal cell carcinoma of the left cheek, and a right ear hearing loss disability as secondary to service-connected conditions. Service connection was denied for residuals of a left submandibular abscess.