Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, finding that a rating in excess of 30 percent is not warranted from June 29, 2021 to January 26, 2023 and no more than a 50 percent evaluation thereafter. The issue of an initial compensable evaluation prior to June 29, 2021 remains remanded for additional development.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss due to the absence of a current disability meeting VA criteria. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis, right shoulder impingement syndrome, left shoulder impingement syndrome, bilateral pes planus, and lumbar spine DDD are granted.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding no current diagnosis or functional impairment.

The Veteran's gastroesophageal disorder, right knee disorder, and several musculoskeletal disorders are granted service connection. Service connection for tinnitus is also granted. The Veteran's claims for left shoulder, right shoulder, left elbow, right elbow, left wrist, right wrist, left hip, right hip, left ankle, right ankle, and bilateral lower extremity venous insufficiency have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder, including whether it is related to service. The decision regarding bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting VA's regulatory definition.,Service connection for a left hand condition, including the left pinky finger, is denied due to lack of evidence supporting a current diagnosis and no link to service.,Service connection for lumbago with mild osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar spine (back condition) is granted as it is related to his service-connected left knee DJD.,Service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee is granted as it is also related to his service-connected left knee DJD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability, tinnitus, or bilateral hearing loss during the relevant periods.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he does not have a current disability, while his claim for OSA is pending due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss. The Board also remanded the issue of rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee disability due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, including as secondary to traumatic brain injury (TBI), finding that there is no current disability of hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence. The claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right upper extremity neuropathy, and left upper extremity neuropathy as there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of sufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation ratings have been denied. The Board found no current disability in the claimed conditions, with some issues having insufficient evidence to establish a nexus to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, and the Board found no evidence to warrant a higher rating based on his audiometric test results.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable (0 percent), and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted based on the audiometric test results provided.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension, left ear hearing loss, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability are all dismissed.