Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and awarded a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The decision also found that the Veteran is unable to secure or maintain any substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional clarification and evidence.

The Veteran's right hand, left hand, right foot, and left foot cold weather injury residuals are all granted as service connected.,His degenerative arthritis of the spine is also granted as service connected.,Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both granted as service connected.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic otitis media with mastoiditis, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss have all been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under VA regulations.,Specifically, the Board found that the Veteran is already in receipt of the highest schedular ratings available for each condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for revision of the May 1969 and August 1970 rating decisions denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, respectively, on the grounds that there was no clear and unmistakable error in applying the statutory and regulatory provisions at the time.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding no current diagnosis of such condition and thus denying her claim.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his request for TDIU prior to February 1, 2019 was also denied as he had been employed full-time up until that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, including noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

Service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for hypertension is granted based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in the Republic of Vietnam.,Service connection for a recurrent thoracolumbar spine disability is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its onset or relationship to service.,Service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding their onset or relationship to service.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its onset or relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for balance problems related to hearing loss due to an untimely substantive appeal, as no VA Form 9 was filed within the required time frame.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of bilateral knee condition due to the appellant's withdrawal. The remaining issues were remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder as secondary to service-connected bilateral flat feet. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss prior to June 8, 2017 and in excess of 40 percent thereafter. The lung cancer issue is remanded due to the inadequacy of the April 2022 VA examination report.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as they do not meet the criteria for a disability under VA compensation standards.,For his right shoulder strain, right elbow condition, frostbite on feet, and nasal and ear conditions, the Board finds that additional evidence is needed to determine if these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a left knee disability due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous decision.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination for the right ankle disability.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability for VA purposes.,Service connection for basal cell carcinoma and melanoma is denied due to lack of evidence showing the conditions were incurred or aggravated during service.,There is no evidence linking the Veteran's skin disorders (basal cell carcinoma and melanoma) to his military service.

The Board has not fully complied with the September 2019 remand directives and requires additional development, including obtaining the Veteran's December 2018 VA audiogram.