Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for a thoracic spine disability, right knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence in some cases. The Veteran's service connection requests are being reviewed again with new medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as non-compensable, with the most recent audiometric evaluations showing levels II in both ears. The Board finds that a compensable rating for this disability is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the claims of an increased rating for PTSD, prostate cancer, and hearing loss due to incomplete consideration of evidence and need for clarification regarding active disease status.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service. The case will be sent back for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, and stage III kidney failure have been remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as his current hearing loss is etiologically related to his period of active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right forearm pain and weakness, dry eye syndrome as a residual of TBI, bilateral hearing loss as a residual of TBI, tinnitus as a residual of TBI, vertigo as a residual of TBI, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (MDD and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder) as a residual of TBI have been granted.,The Veteran's service-connected right 5th metacarpal disability is not associated with the newly diagnosed conditions.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The issue of service connection for respiratory difficulties as due to Gulf War syndrome has been withdrawn by the Veteran through his authorized representative.,Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, a functional gastrointestinal disorder, is granted.,Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.,Service connection for hernia (claimed as abdominal discomfort) as secondary to irritable bowel syndrome is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The decision on whether these conditions are related to service is pending.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, left knee disability, and right knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral hearing loss should be remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's decreased hearing is related to his active duty service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of their appeal.,Service connection granted for tinnitus, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his employment as a chaplain/civil servant with the U.S. Army, and he has not provided sufficient information regarding his current employment status.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and evaluation due to evidence of potential worsening of the Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and newly diagnosed diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the lower extremities.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional records, including SSA disability records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased evaluation, service connection for right heel, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and respiratory disorder need further development to ensure all relevant evidence is considered.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military noise exposure.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's employability due to his service-connected disabilities, and has therefore remanded the case for further action.