Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction has been granted. The claims of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetes mellitus, service connection for bilateral toe fungus, hepatitis, removal of kidney, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of data for the Veteran's hearing at 3000 Hertz, which could affect the determination of whether his bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and requests for additional examinations. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but his right knee arthritis and left knee arthritis are found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for financial assistance due to service-connected disabilities resulting in loss or use of feet is being remanded for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to July 31, 2019.

The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence supported only noncompensable ratings based on Level I and II hearing acuity in both ears.

The Veteran's combined effects of his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, vertigo associated with tinnitus, and tinnitus associated with bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined effect of these conditions.

The Board dismissed the issues of service connection for tinnitus, right and left ear hearing loss, headaches, a right eye disorder, a right knee disorder, and a right shoulder disorder. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current disability of hearing loss that meets VA compensation criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of initial compensable disability rating for right knee disability, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for lumbar degenerative disease (low back disability).

The Veteran's claim of service connection for refractive error has been reopened, and he is now receiving a 50 percent rating for his vascular headaches prior to July 19, 2021. The issue of higher ratings for his vascular headaches from July 19, 2021 remains remanded.,The Veteran's hypertension, stroke/cerebral vascular accident (claimed as residuals of stroke), fibromyalgia, cervical spine disorder, and bilateral hearing loss are all being remanded for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable disability rating, as his audiometric test results do not warrant a higher than noncompensable rating.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's skin cancer treatment and its impact on his immune system.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative disc disease, bilateral hearing loss, otitis media, a left ankle disability, sinusitis, and costochondritis as there are no longer justiciable issues due to the grants of service connection in prior rating decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral dry eye syndrome, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder due to unresolved medical issues.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for bilateral hearing loss prior to September 16, 2016 is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability, bilateral knee disability, left ankle disability, and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's disabilities are found to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of substantial compliance with its August 2021 remand directives and because an in-person examination is necessary to determine if the Veteran has current valid diagnosis of hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for back disability, other than lumbosacral strain and claimed as spondylolysis. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder are also remanded due to inadequate examination reports.