Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for left foot fungus, right foot fungus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), penis fungus, groin fungus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease (IHD) due to improper docketing of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received. The issues of service connection for various conditions are now pending.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for additional development, including obtaining records from his former employer Shell Oil.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining additional VA clinical records and a VA audiological evaluation to determine the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and the etiology of any tinnitus. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for his service-connected disabilities and clarification on when he should have received effective dates.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions alone do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating of 20 percent for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the evidence did not support an assignment of a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and cancer of the left tonsil, both related to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was diagnosed during service with significant threshold shifts, meeting VA criteria for a disability. His cancer of the left tonsil is presumed to be due to his exposure to herbicides.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for phimosis of the foreskin and anemia. A compensable rating was also granted for coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to inadequate examination opinions and procedural issues.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating higher than 20 percent for residuals of a right shoulder SLAP tear. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, and his right shoulder range of motion is not limited to 45 degrees (midway between the side and shoulder).

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a non-specific ear disorder, and CAPD. The appeals are now considered on their merits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, a left foot disorder, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, osteoarthritis of the right knee, and recurrent subluxation of the right knee. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for low back disorder and neck disorder, nerve damage in the back, and bilateral lower extremity sciatica and nerve damage are all remanded due to lack of recent VA examinations and assertions of worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inconsistencies and incompleteness in the record regarding the severity of his current hearing loss. A new VA examination is needed to determine if he has a current disability of hearing loss under VA regulations, and whether it is related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 50 percent, which corresponds to Level VIII hearing impairment in both ears. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been granted service connection, with the PTSD receiving an increased rating to 70 percent.

The Veteran's service connection for aortic valve stenosis was granted. His claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, as were his claims for earlier effective date and TDIU at housebound rate.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted. The bilateral hearing loss and psoriatic arthritis claims are remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, bilateral lumbar radiculopathy, bilateral knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension. The diagnoses are presumed to be related to herbicide agent exposure during service.