Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of VA treatment records and audiograms. The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 30, 2018, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter, as well as service connection for right ear hearing loss, are now pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence demonstrating a direct relationship between his in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is currently manifested by Level I hearing acuity, bilaterally.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), and a separate compensable rating for gastritis due to incomplete development and lack of adequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have current right ear hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The left ear hearing loss issue is remanded due to a lack of recent examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and prostate cancer due to a lack of an examination addressing the nature and etiology of these conditions. The Veteran is not considered a 'radiation-exposed veteran' under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(d)(3).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an examination for bilateral hearing loss, and the need to schedule a VA audiology examination at the closest VA facility.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service and the Board has granted entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete VA examinations and the need for addendum opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss disability and skin conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the issue of service connection for tinnitus due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for increase ratings, service connection, and SMC due to new evidence received since the March 2020 statement of the case. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it may be affected by the readjudication of other claims.

The Veteran's death was not due to willful misconduct and he had been continuously rated as totally disabled for the 10 years immediately preceding his death. However, DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied because the Veteran did not meet all criteria (not rated as 100% disabled for 10 years prior to death and not a former POW). The issue of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition as secondary to the tinnitus.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the validity of audiometry results from the Veteran's enlistment examination and the need for further clarification on whether his hearing loss is related to service, including noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure is at least as likely as not related to his current condition. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable for the entire period on appeal, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because his current hearing impairment does not meet the VA criteria for a disability.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder was denied, as the evidence did not support symptoms consistent with a higher rating. The claim for TDIU prior to March 7, 2022, was also denied due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities not rendering him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.