Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need to obtain additional evidence from SSA, private providers, and worker's compensation. The claims will be reviewed again with this new information.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate examination for bilateral hearing loss, specifically addressing whether it is at least as likely as not related to service. The Veteran and his representative raised a theory that he experienced hearing loss at frequencies not tested during in-service audiograms.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as the appeal was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to September 14, 2020, was dismissed. The Board also remanded the remaining issues related to his spine and knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a higher combined disability rating, finding that the calculation of his combined rating was correct and that he did not meet the criteria for a higher combined rating.

The Board finds that further action is needed to determine if an effective date prior to September 22, 2016 for the award of TDIU on an extraschedular basis should be granted. The Veteran's contentions and dates of contention are not clear.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is at least a 50% probability that these conditions began during or were caused by his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and denied an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability is related to in-service acoustic trauma, while his left ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the claim for service connection of bilateral tinea pedis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss of either ear, according to VA standards. The claims for increased evaluations for service-connected right shoulder degenerative arthritis, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine are remanded as the Veteran should be scheduled for a VA examination to document the current severity of his service-connected disabilities. The claim for service connection for a bilateral knee strain is also remanded as the Veteran should be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the etiology of any diagnosed knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left hip disability, low back disability, and right shoulder disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for depression, but the other issues related to hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and knee disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression has been dismissed. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been granted. The remaining issues are being remanded due to lack of a current diagnosis or treatment.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated at 10 percent since July 3, 2014. The Board granted a partial increase in rating for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The Board found that his bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not meet the schedular criteria for a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to January 13, 2020. The appeal is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for left hip disorder, sleep apnea, and hearing loss. The case of arthritis is dismissed as withdrawn.

The appeal for cerebrovascular accident and stroke was dismissed. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus is granted.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss being related to service, and thus denied both issues.