Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted service connection based on noise exposure during service. The claims for a right shoulder disorder, sinus disorder, headaches and vertigo (claimed as secondary to sinus disorder), and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, stress fractures of both lower extremities, left knee instability, and synovial cyst at L4-L5. The claim for new and material evidence to reopen service connection for left elbow arthritis was granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left ear tinnitus, residuals of broken clavicle, left, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete service treatment records and insufficient VA opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease and Parkinsonism with urinary problems, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since May 22, 2020. The Board has granted TDIU for this period but has remanded the issue of TDIU prior to May 22, 2020.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at a 30 percent rating as of June 23, 2021. Prior to that date, the disability was not compensable.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a causal relationship between his current hearing loss and his active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential issues with the adequacy of the September 2017 VA examination, particularly regarding the right ear hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are not related to active service or any incident of service.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted. For the period from September 29, 2017 onward, his psychiatric disability (including PTSD) does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to issues with substitution of the appellant as a claimant. The AOJ needs to determine if the appellant is a valid substituted claimant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss due to additional development being required.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient examination reports. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again with new evaluations.

The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted, effective February 18, 2013. He is now receiving SMC at the housebound rate, effective October 16, 2013.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss and a respiratory disability (to include COPD) to be further evaluated due to insufficient evidence in previous VA examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as it relates to in-service noise exposure. The current addendum medical opinion provided by the VA examiner was inadequate for decision-making purposes.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right ear disability and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives. Additional development is required, including obtaining in-service right ear surgery records and VA treatment records from upstate New York VAMCs.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral knee disability due to a lack of evidence showing the presence of these conditions during or within one year after active service.,There were no findings of current disabilities in the Veteran's STRs or subsequent VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) due to potential issues with the examination provided in the July 2021 remand. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection issue.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, but service connection is not granted.,Service connection was denied for right collar bone condition, left knee disability, left wrist disability, and left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral hearing loss have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been rated based on their current severity. The Board has found that a rating in excess of the assigned ratings is not warranted, but has remanded for further evaluation due to insufficient evidence.