Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has granted an effective date of October 27, 2010 for the award of SMC based on aid and attendance. The Veteran's need for regular assistance due to his service-connected disabilities was established from that date.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability may be related to service, but needs further examination and record review to make a determination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development, specifically needing a VA addendum opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The AOJ should obtain an opinion that considers all relevant evidence and provides a complete rationale in support of its conclusion.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disability, including psoriasis of the scalp, and for bilateral hearing loss. The appellant's current skin condition is not related to his in-service bug bites or reported itchy scalp during service. His bilateral hearing loss does not meet VA criteria for a disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability, CAD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to the Veteran's inability to attend VA examinations due to cancer treatment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, including a lack of examination and missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate have been granted due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, headaches from TBI, low back strain, bilateral hearing loss with nonsuppurative otitis media, diabetes mellitus with nephropathy and erectile dysfunction, diabetic retinopathy, peripheral vascular disease, peripheral neuropathy, hemorrhoids, residuals of TBI, and other conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further examination to determine their current severity and etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee tendonitis, depressive disorder, and COPD for additional development.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypertension were granted service connection as they became manifest within one year of his separation from active duty. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and pseudofolliculitis barbae is remanded due to the need for further medical opinions.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to decide the claims for service connection for PTSD, costochondritis, back condition, hearing loss, abdominal pain, hemorrhoids, traumatic brain injury (TBI), left ankle condition, and right knee strain. The Veteran's VA generated evidence will be reviewed in a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability evaluation for sinusitis is denied.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction is denied.,A compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity prior to August 26, 2014, and a rating in excess of 30 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity for the period beginning August 26, 2014, are denied.,Rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity prior to August 26, 2014, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity for the period beginning August 26, 2014, are denied.,Rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity prior to September 7, 2021, and a rating in excess of 40 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity for the period beginning September 7, 2021, are denied.,A 40 percent rating for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity for the period beginning September 7, 2021, and a 40 percent rating for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity for the period beginning September 7, 2021, are granted.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for post-traumatic headaches prior to July 22, 2013, is denied. A rating in excess of 30 percent for post-traumatic headaches for the period beginning July 22, 2013, is also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient reasoning in the June 2018 VA examination.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is considered to be a result of noise exposure during his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and increased rating for a back disability prior to May 9, 2022 are denied. The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 10 percent from the date of service connection.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss prior to November 12, 2021, finding that the evidence did not support such a rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete information and treatment records, as well as verification of his Reserve duty.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has found new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claims of service connection for hepatitis C and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, but additional development is necessary before a decision on the merits can be made.