Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was previously rated as noncompensable prior to July 9, 2018. The RO has now increased the rating to 10 percent effective from July 9, 2018.,The Veteran is seeking a higher initial rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability and also seeks TDIU.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to new complaints and the need for a VA examination.,The Veteran's back condition, hernia condition, and abdominal scar are remanded as there are missing service treatment records and a need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and audiometric results.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss due to potential issues with the medical opinion provided. The Veteran's exposure to noise during service is acknowledged, but the examiner did not consider his post-service use of hearing protection and subsequent onset of hearing loss.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to noise exposure during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's employability and the severity of their service-connected disabilities, specifically bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran will need to provide additional information for a TDIU claim and undergo new examinations.

The claim to reopen service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted, and the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is now service-connected. The initial rating for left ear hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent from August 12, 2015 to January 23, 2020. The claim for TDIU was denied as the Veteran had already been in receipt of a 100% disability rating due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sickle cell trait is denied as the condition is a congenital defect and not subject to VA compensation.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied because the Veteran does not have a current disability meeting VA criteria.,Service connection for upper back disability, PFB, asthma, and bilateral eye disability are all denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or post-service treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar strain prior to August 11, 2017 is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disability, a sleep disorder, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to potential new evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left leg stress fracture and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable, and the Board found that there is no evidence to warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current disability of hearing loss at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism has been granted a 60% rating, effective September 20, 2012.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist disability, hearing loss disabilities in both ears, and tinnitus due to issues with evidence not being current or complete.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a permanent injury to either ear during active duty and no chronic symptoms dating back to service. The Board also denied the Veteran's TDIU claim due to insufficient evidence showing he was unable to secure or follow any substantially gainful employment.,The Board found that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is not related to his in-service injury, as evidenced by the July 2022 VA examination report.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, upper and lower extremity peripheral vascular diseases have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a bilateral knee disorder, varicose veins of the left leg, undiagnosed numbness and tingling in lower extremities, and fatigue are all granted.