Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new examination and clarification of private audiogram results.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, as well as his TDIU claim, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records. The issues of service connection for a back disability, sleep apnea, rib injury, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and an increased rating for residuals of frost bite of the left hand are also referred.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected bilateral hearing loss from July 16, 2015 due to the Veteran's failure to appear for a VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, low back disability, and bilateral hearing loss disability have been granted.,His bilateral hearing loss disability is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has not yet determined the appropriate rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, but has decided to remand the case due to incomplete audiometric testing records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete or insufficient medical opinions regarding his service connection claims for tinnitus, hearing loss, Mohs cancer (skin cancer), chronic neck condition, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, chronic back pain, left knee condition, right knee condition, and foot conditions. The claims are being returned to the RO with instructions to prepare and issue a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to establish and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a grant of TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's April 2018 substantive appeal was timely filed in response to the December 2017 SOC, which addressed his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision grants this appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded the claim of service connection for PTSD due to insufficient evidence regarding the occurrence of in-service stressors.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions are causally related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sinusitis, and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis and left ear hearing loss due to inadequate development in previous examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, low back disorder, and right hip disorder has been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The claims are currently pending.

The Veteran's CAD was rated at 10% since October 1, 2016.,Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to be related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for several issues, including determining if monthly benefit payments were calculated correctly for accrued benefits purposes. The specific issue of bilateral hearing loss service connection remains unresolved.

The Board has granted the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from January 9, 2014. The Board also remanded the issue of whether a TDIU was warranted prior to that date.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability and remanded the cases of initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and seborrheic dermatitis.