Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 10% prior to February 18, 2019, and remains at 10% thereafter. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his military noise exposure and his claimed condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active duty service and have continued since then.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that his disability does not warrant a higher rating. The appeal for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection, but the right renal cell carcinoma claim is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple myeloma, skin cancer, prostate disability, erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The issues have been remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for Meniere's syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of his conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to various conditions have been dismissed. The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, left knee disability, and low back disorder. Additionally, the Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent.,PTSD symptoms such as suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals, near-continuous panic or depression affecting ability to function independently, appropriate and effectively have been considered.

The Veteran's rhinitis/sinusitis is granted as presumptively related to his active duty service in Afghanistan. The claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD and service connection for bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right ankle condition due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The remaining claims for various conditions are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's cervical spine, right knee, left ankle, sinusitis, and rhinitis disabilities. Additionally, new examinations are required to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral foot, CFS, and bilateral hearing disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for a respiratory disorder, including mesothelioma and asbestosis, is denied. The Veteran's hearing loss claim is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if a TDIU should be granted for the period from March 12, 2010, to September 23, 2012, on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, cerebrovascular accident (claimed as mini strokes), bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The AOJ must obtain updated medical records from the Veteran's new location in Florida.

The Veteran's claim of a TDIU prior to April 3, 2017 was denied as he did not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU and his service-connected disabilities were not shown to prevent him from following or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss is not related to service and was caused by post-service noise exposure.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for vertigo. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent, with an exceptional pattern of hearing impairment shown in the left ear. Service connection for vertigo was also denied as there is no evidence that it is related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, impaired fasting glucose, high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia), sleep apnea, left hernia, and left groin pain have not been shown to be related to service.,Specifically, the evidence does not establish that these conditions began during or were otherwise caused by active service.