Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing level acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and an increased rating for left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of current disabilities for VA purposes.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a 10% rating. Bilateral hearing loss is denied for the period from January 13, 2016 to May 9, 2022 and denied in excess of 10% for the period from May 9, 2022. Service connection is granted for left knee instability and right knee instability. The Veteran's heart disability is not service connected.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to military service, including as due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in processing and consideration of the Veteran's overpayment claim. The validity of the debt must be resolved first, followed by a reconsideration of the waiver request.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the absence of a current disability. The issue of service connection for dermatitis is remanded as there was an error in not obtaining a VA examination and opinion prior to the September 2020 rating decision.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of October 8, 2021 for the award of a 100% disability rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral retinitis pigmentosa with pseudophakia was denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as earlier effective dates for service connection, were denied.,An initial rating of 10 percent was assigned for both conditions, with the effective date set at April 7, 2021.

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

The Veteran's PTSD claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder for VA compensation purposes.,The Veteran's lower back disability claim is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his current condition began during active service or is related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's hearing loss claim is denied as there are no significant changes in hearing thresholds shown in the records and the Veteran did not report any complaints of tinnitus until after military service.,The Veteran's tinnitus claim is denied as there was no record of complaint or treatment for tinnitus during active service, and the Board finds that it is more likely related to post-military events.,The Veteran's right knee disability claim is denied as his current condition does not appear to be related to an in-service injury or disease. The remanded issues of bilateral shoulder conditions will impact this decision.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition and left shoulder condition claims are both remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and shrapnel in the buttock, left cheek due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Claims for increased ratings for left hip strain with limitation of flexion, left hip strain with impairment of the thigh, and left hip strain with limitation of extension were also denied due to lack of evidence showing more severe functional limitations than currently assigned.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The Veteran's PTSD remains at a 70% evaluation, but TDIU is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development of records, including service treatment and personnel records. The character of discharge issue is intertwined with the claims for PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran served in Vietnam and had service department examinations prior to January 1, 1967.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of hearing loss disability for VA purposes and the examiner found that any current hearing loss is not related to military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and missing VA treatment records. The Veteran's hearing loss disability needs further evaluation by a VA audiologist.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, right knee instability, left knee instability, and painful flexion and extension of both knees were denied as the Veteran failed to attend scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for chronic residuals of pneumonia, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, head injury, and cervical strain due to incomplete documentation in the Veteran's notice of disagreement.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand instructions and for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service, including combat-related noise exposure during Operation Desert Storm.