Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination in denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim will be returned for a new examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), bilateral glaucoma, and bilateral hearing loss due to potential service connection issues.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral glaucoma is being remanded as there are questions regarding its etiology and whether it is related to his diabetes mellitus or service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is also being remanded, with a focus on determining if the condition is due to tinnitus or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional development due to issues related to PTSD and asthma. The Veteran's effective date for a higher rating of PTSD remains pending, as does his claim for service connection for asthma.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected diabetic neuropathy and hearing loss/tinnitus. The issues have been remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, right shoulder, and right knee disabilities. The case is remanded for further development regarding these issues.

The Board has granted a TDIU rating from October 23, 2013 due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities making it impossible for him to maintain any form of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's dizziness episodes and their relation to his hearing loss disability. The claim will be returned for an addendum medical opinion.

The Board has determined that there was a procedural error in recognizing the Veteran's VA Form 10182 and placing his appeal on the AMA Hearing Docket. The Veteran's appeal should be re-docketed under the Legacy system, with his March 2019 VA Form 10182 accepted as a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD).

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence showing the Veteran has a current disability that meets VA's criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because he does not meet the criteria for hearing loss as defined by VA standards.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The Board has also remanded cases involving service connection, TDIU, and special monthly compensation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability, as well as the propriety of severance of service connection for left knee instability. The Veteran is to be provided with a more contemporaneous medical examination for his hearing loss and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU prior to October 1, 2021 was denied as the evidence did not show he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due solely to his service-connected disabilities from October 12, 2020, to October 1, 2021.

The Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and MDD are all granted. The MDD is found to be secondary to service-connected disabilities including right knee DJD, right thumb fracture with residuals, and left fifth finger degenerative arthritis.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete audiometric data and an inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to service. The AOJ must obtain missing records, provide a new VA examination if necessary, and request an addendum opinion from the examiner.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of audiometric test results from a VA audiology assessment that could determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of sleep apnea, right shoulder disability, PTSD, lumbar strain, bilateral hearing loss, and GERD.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence supports a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss but granted it for right ear hearing loss.