Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and readjudication. Specifically, they need to provide the Veteran with an opportunity to submit medical evidence in support of his claims, complete the issue of service connection for Meniere's disease as per the April 2021 remand, and then readjudicate all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the most severe impairment being Level II in the right ear and Level I in the left ear. The Board has determined that this does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as he has not provided necessary employment information and there is insufficient evidence to determine his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal. The TDIU claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to November 11, 2021. From November 11, 2021 onwards, the issue of TDIU is moot due to SMC at the (s) level.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss in the right ear has been dismissed because he withdrew his appeal.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have current right ear hearing loss for VA disability compensation purposes. The case is being remanded to determine if left ear hearing loss may be related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of cervical spine degenerative changes is more likely than not related to his military service as an airborne soldier. However, it denied a higher evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for an independent medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to medication prescribed by VA for his erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment as of August 22, 2013. The Board has remanded the issue for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extra-schedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for a determination on whether the Veteran is entitled to TDIU benefits due to his service-connected disabilities, as it may be an issue of unemployability rather than disability rating.

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

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to unresolved issues regarding service connection for a heart disability and stroke residuals. The Board will need to resolve these issues before making a determination on the compensation rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability. The appeal regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed without prejudice.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military noise exposure.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to in-service noise exposure and that his hearing was normal at discharge.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and research into his reported stressors. The Board will consider whether new evidence supports reopening of these claims.