Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is at least as likely as not related to hazardous noise exposure during his active duty.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of tinnitus was denied. The appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for dermatosis, chronic sinusitis, and a headache disability have been granted. The Veteran also received increased evaluations for PTSD (70%), fibromyalgia (40%), and irritable bowel syndrome (30%). Bilateral hearing loss was denied.,An effective date of August 6, 2018, has been assigned for the 70% evaluation for PTSD. Effective dates have also been assigned for increased evaluations for fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome.

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.,New and relevant evidence has been received, allowing readjudication of the claims for service connection for a headache disorder, a psychiatric disorder, and ulcerative colitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran contends that his current hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, but VA examinations have found conflicting findings and could not conclusively determine if he currently has a hearing loss disability for VA purposes or if it is related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is presumed to have been incurred in service due to noise exposure. The right wrist, right ankle, lumbar spine, and bilateral hearing loss issues are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not currently have a disability level of hearing loss that meets VA criteria.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction due to incomplete records and inadequate VA examination reports. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and left groin disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to bilateral foot conditions, hearing loss, right hip disability, right hip scar, left hip disability, and left foot disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination. The Veteran's claims of increased rating for tinnitus, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left heel and foot disability, left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, right ankle disability, neurological disability of the left leg, and neurological disability of the right leg are now pending.

The Veteran's left ankle condition is granted service connection. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn the appeals for familial hypertriglyceridemia and bilateral hearing loss disability, thus dismissing these issues.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the appeal for bilateral hearing loss, so the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been dismissed as the issue was fully granted in a previous rating decision. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and right shoulder condition are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the increased rating of bilateral hearing loss disability, and the Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as Level I in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating. The claim for a compensable rating is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for seizures/essential tremors due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hearing loss, left ankle collateral ligament sprain, left lower extremity sciatic nerve pain, left shoulder glenohumeral joint and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, myopia and retinal hole lattice degeneration (claimed as bilateral eye retina problems, thinning, and vision decrease), right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, right knee strain, right lower extremity sciatic nerve pain, right shoulder glenohumeral joint and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, a severe stomach and colon condition, fibromyalgia, steatohepatitis, vertigo and balance issues, and flat feet; and entitlement to increased evaluations for lumbosacral strain, GERD, left knee strain, restrictive lung disease, allergic rhinitis, PB, a skin rash, and tension headaches. The Veteran was also remanded for VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood and tinnitus.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea are granted as service-connected.,The issue of an initial compensable disability rating for right ear hearing loss is remanded.