Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 23, 2018 and from that date was denied. The Board found the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to October 23, 2018 or in excess of 50 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as there is no evidence showing entitlement to these conditions prior to November 18, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, depression, anxiety, and sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has found that service connection for tinnitus is granted. For the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension, additional development is needed due to lack of a definitive opinion.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary due to the Veteran's testimony indicating worsening of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy, and he received continued treatment for these disabilities. The Board finds new VA examinations are needed to determine the current level of severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current hearing loss and service exposure. The Veteran is still entitled to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but further evidence is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for additional development, including scheduling examinations and obtaining medical records. The issues include rating adjustments for right elbow disability, effective date determinations, service connection claims for hearing loss and tinnitus, and recoupment of severance pay.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss due to a lack of consideration of in-service noise exposure and its potential impact on current hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for allergic rhinitis due to Gulf War burn pit exposure. The claims for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus, hypertension, and lumbar spine disability are granted service connection. The right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, right hip, left hip, and bilateral hearing loss claims are remanded for further development.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's tinnitus, hypertension, and lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right ear disability and hearing loss due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran's current diagnoses do not support these claims.

The Veteran's TBI was granted a disability evaluation of 40 percent effective from January 29, 2015 to June 5, 2018. The RO is directed to obtain updated medical records and schedule the Veteran for examinations to determine current severity of his bilateral hearing loss and diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for short-term memory loss, bilateral hearing loss, fatigue, a heart disorder, and gastroesophageal reflux disease due to new evidence not being received.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected, with all doubts resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's combined 100 percent schedular rating means that the issue of entitlement to a TDIU is moot, as his service-connected conditions render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The appeal for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss disability, left elbow lateral epicondylitis, right elbow lateral epicondylitis, and left knee degenerative joint disease (DJD) is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal. The appeals for increased ratings for left elbow lateral epicondylitis, right elbow lateral epicondylitis, and left knee DJD are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and he did not complete the necessary VA Form 21-8940 to support his TDIU claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The decision found that there was no evidence of chronic right ear hearing loss within one year after separation from service, nor did it establish continuity of symptomatology. The Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is considered not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and right wrist disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 14, 2020.