Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, Fibromyalgia, and physical injuries, make it impossible for him to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of his disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus and service connection for a secondary acquired psychiatric disorder, to include insomnia, as related to his service-connected tinnitus, is being remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.,A VA examination will be scheduled to determine if any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders are etiologically related to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and lumbar spine condition. The Veteran's current conditions are found to be related to his active-duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the claims for esophageal cancer and glaucoma. The issues of entitlement to initial compensable ratings for right ear hearing loss, hypothyroidism, and an initial rating for glaucoma are also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder condition, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD). Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The claims for service connection of neck and knee conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since March 1, 2022. Therefore, the Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU as of such date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating between October 9, 2018 and September 19, 2019.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his active military service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection, with the latter being secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.,The Board found that new evidence supported readjudicating the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hemorrhoids due to procedural errors. The Veteran's current symptoms are being considered, as well as potential links to herbicide agent exposure during service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and an initial disability rating in excess of a noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was found to be manifested by no more than right ear Level III auditory acuity and left ear Level VI auditory acuity on and prior to June 21, 2023. This warranted a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability has not shown actual, sustained improvement at any time during the appellate period and therefore a rating in excess of 40 percent must be denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his military service and are related to noise exposure from his MOS as a rifleman.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not show it was incurred in or aggravated by service, including due to noise exposure. The Veteran's STRs were silent for any complaints of hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than January 28, 2016, for the award of service connection for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis, right knee osteoarthritis, bilateral hearing loss and GERD have been dismissed.,Effective January 28, 2016, an initial rating of 30 percent for GERD has been granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating.,The Veteran's chronic otitis media, left ear s/p radical mastoidectomy is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating.,The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to pending claims for increased ratings and further development needed. The TDIU issue is inextricably intertwined with these other issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left and right knee conditions, and toxoplasmic chorioretinopathy with macular involvement, cataracts due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.