Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder is granted as service connected. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to lack of current evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, OSA, and hypertension are not granted. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from following a substantially gainful occupation for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify from July 12, 2013 to May 3, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (DM) is remanded due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents. The TDIU claim is also remanded as incomplete employment history was provided.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain VA treatment records since April 2021 and determine if a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to February 11, 2022 is warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastroenteritis and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and evaluation due to inadequacies in previous examinations and inconsistencies in representation.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of low back disability, bilateral knee condition, bilateral hip condition, acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been withdrawn. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional evidence and provide a VA examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection need further development due to missing VA treatment records. The case is being sent back to obtain these records.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus and entitlement to TDIU prior to March 8, 2022 due to insufficient evidence regarding the presence of current disabilities and their relationship to service.

The appeals for increased ratings for PTSD, tinnitus, left knee tendonitis/tendinosis, and left ankle sprain residuals are dismissed. The appeals regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss, TBI with associated headaches and sleep apnea, lumbosacral strain, right knee tendonitis (limitation of extension), and right knee tendonitis (limitation of flexion) are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder has been granted.,Service connection was also established for tinnitus with an effective date of June 20, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to the need for new VA examinations and medical opinions regarding her right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for basal cell carcinoma, bilateral hearing loss, scar associated with right Achilles tendon rupture, and right Achilles tendon rupture (right ankle) as well as his claim for a rating greater than 20 percent for diabetes. The AOJ is instructed to obtain any outstanding VA treatment records and private treatment records related to the Veteran's claims. Additionally, a new examination is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's right ankle disability and diabetes.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a right hand disability, as secondary to a service-connected left hand condition.

The Board has denied an initial compensable rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and has remanded the issue of service connection for a bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently evaluated as noncompensable due to the severity of his nonservice-connected tinnitus and work impairment attributed to this condition. The Board found that a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore, his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The issue of tinnitus is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for snoring and acid reflux have been reopened due to new evidence. The issues of entitlement to service connection for equilibrium problems, bilateral hearing loss, upper and lower teeth condition including TMJ disorder, arthritis of the entire joint system, bilateral ankle condition, bilateral hip condition, sleep apnea, bilateral eye condition (periorbital eye pain, NVS cataracts, glaucoma suspect), acid reflux, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are all remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for snoring and acid reflux have been reopened due to new evidence. The issues of entitlement to service connection for equilibrium problems, bilateral hearing loss, upper and lower teeth condition including TMJ disorder, arthritis of the entire joint system, bilateral ankle condition, bilateral hip condition, sleep apnea, bilateral eye condition (periorbital eye pain, NVS cataracts, glaucoma suspect), acid reflux, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for the service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to October 19, 2022, and a rating higher than 10 percent from October 19, 2022, is denied.