Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for asthma, neck disability, initial compensable rating for left ear (now bilateral) hearing loss, and a rating in excess of 20 percent thereafter for intervertebral disc disease with degenerative arthritis of the spine are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records. The heart disability claim is related to presumed exposure to herbicide agents, while the respiratory disability claim may be related to such exposure as well.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to comply with a prior remand order regarding obtaining audiometric data from VA facilities. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is now on hold until this information can be obtained and reviewed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 0 percent, effective from July 16, 2010. The Board found the criteria for a compensable rating have not been satisfied.,An initial evaluation of 70 percent, but not higher, for an unspecified depressive disorder for the purposes of accrued benefits is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is due to exposure to hazardous noise during his combat service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeals for left knee condition, hypertension, and left shoulder condition have been dismissed.,His appeal for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been denied. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a current diagnosis of hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to July 26, 2017 for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no receipt of a claim or evidence of entitlement before that date.

The Veteran's left shoulder rotator cuff tear and labral tear are granted service connection, while bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Veteran's nevus and photophobia of the left eye are granted an initial 10 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for asbestosis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. However, the effective dates prior to June 4, 2018 are denied.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.

The claim to reopen the service connection for a low back disorder is granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to lack of worker's compensation records and need for an additional opinion.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the absence of a current diagnosis and no evidence linking it to service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, was also denied as there is no credible evidence supporting the occurrence of the claimed in-service stressors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, Tinnitus, and Right Ear Hearing Loss, render him unemployable. The Board finds that the criteria for a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) have been met.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's tables for rating hearing loss disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and has determined that he is entitled to this benefit based on in-service noise exposure. The Board found sufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and his active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current diagnoses of these conditions and insufficient evidence to link them to her military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent effective October 27, 2022. Prior to that date, the rating was 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension, rhinitis, right ear hearing loss, and a psychosis for treatment purposes has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, specifically her periods of active duty basic training and ACDUTRA.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear mixed hearing loss and right ear sensorineural hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's preexisting conditions were aggravated by service.