Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including hearing loss, depression/anxiety (claimed as PTSD), lower back condition, headaches/migraines, and sleep apnea. The reasons for remanding these cases include needing a new VA examination due to the passage of time since the last examination, verifying stressor events in service, and considering whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, thus the claim for TDIU is denied.

Your claims of service connection for refractive error, pterygium of the left eye, and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed as your appeal has been withdrawn by you through a Higher-Level Review (HLR).

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and earlier effective dates for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all remanded for further evaluation. The VA will obtain updated treatment records, schedule the Veteran for a new examination to assess his PTSD, and determine if his hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to be manifested by hearing acuity of no worse than Level I in both ears prior to August 10, 2021. As of August 10, 2021, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was manifested by hearing acuity of no worse than Level II in the right ear and Level IV in the left ear. The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded two issues related to the Veteran's tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, as new evidence was added since the last Statement of the Case.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral flat feet, back disability, jaw disability, bilateral hearing loss, and nerve disability. However, these claims are still pending as they have been remanded due to additional evidence being requested.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been provided to substantiate his claims. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosed disability or persistent symptoms.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss. The examiner is requested to provide a comprehensive opinion on whether the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability are currently rated as noncompensable. The cervical spine, bilateral hip, shoulder, hand, foot, lumbar spine, and left knee disabilities have not been service connected.,The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current cervical spine, bilateral hip, shoulder, hand, foot, lumbar spine, and left knee disabilities are related to his INACDUTRA or aggravated by a preexisting right knee disability.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and asbestos exposure. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to new evidence not being material.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and painful scars of the left arm. His TDIU claim is granted effective July 1, 2021.

The Veteran's hearing loss was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The Board finds that the current hearing loss is not causally related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability has not more nearly approximated the criteria for a compensable evaluation when mechanically applying the diagnostic criteria to the audiological testing results, and his complaint of difficulty hearing is contemplated by the rating schedule.,The Board finds that the evidence does not show that the U.S.S. Enterprise was in the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam from May 1967 to March 20, 1968, which would trigger VA's duty to assist him by providing him a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss condition.

The Board has decided that service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is denied. The cases of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left-hand disability, right-hand disability, left ankle disability, left knee disability, and left foot disability due to inadequate VA examinations and missing non-VA medical records. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to continuous post-service symptoms and the presumption of exposure to noise during military service.