Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was rated as noncompensable under the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. The evidence did not support a compensable rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a thoracolumbar spine disorder. However, due to conflicting evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions, the claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with current diagnoses established.,For left foot metatarsalgia and osteoarthritis and left ankle osteoarthritis, the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether these disabilities had their onset in service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's decrease in bilateral hearing acuity within one year of discharge from service is related to noise exposure during his military service and there was a continuity of symptomatology without evidence of an intercurrent cause.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PFB. Service connection was granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy.,Service connection was not established for PTSD or schizophrenia due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) as his employment with the United States Postal Service was considered to be in a protected environment and he earned more than marginal income.

The appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been dismissed. The appeals for the remaining issues have been REMANDED.

The Board has remanded the claim for TDIU due to insufficient evidence showing that the Veteran is unemployable by reason of his service-connected disabilities. The case must be referred to the Director of Compensation Services for consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with joint osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran did not have a disability at any point during the appeal period.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected chronic non-suppurative otitis media (rated as bilateral hearing loss) due to incomplete audiometric records and missed VA examinations.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and his right shoulder strain is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board denied both claims.,The Veteran sought higher ratings for his left ear hearing loss and right shoulder strain, but the evidence did not support a higher rating in either case.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent prior to November 18, 2013. The Board found no evidence of increased impairment or findings suggestive of a higher rating prior to this date.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for traumatic brain injury, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate consideration of certain medical opinions and examinations in the original decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to concerns about the qualifications of the examiners and possible worsening symptoms. The Veteran's effective date claim is denied as there are no documents prior to September 29, 2017 that can be construed as an intent to file a claim to reopen or as a claim to reopen service connection for asbestosis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and its relation to service. An additional examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has a diagnosis of left ear hearing loss in addition to right ear hearing loss, and whether it is at least as likely as not that any hearing loss for VA purposes is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease, including noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of PTSD, CAD, BHL, tinnitus, and hypertension. The effective date assigned in January 2018 rating decision was October 10, 2014.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for headaches, lower extremity arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and a female reproductive disorder are denied. The right wrist disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder claims are remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back disorder, and diabetes mellitus. The issues have been remanded for further action.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable prior to June 16, 2021, and at a 10 percent rating thereafter. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support an increased rating for any period of time.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the issues on appeal, including for service connection claims related to bilateral foot conditions, bilateral ankle conditions, pseudofolliculitis, and bilateral hearing loss.