Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated as level I in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Board denied the claim for a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was manifested by Level I and II hearing acuity in the right and left ears, respectively. The Board denied a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment for the specified periods, warranting a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an ENT physician's opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss. An additional VA opinion from an ENT physician is needed.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss as the evidence did not show a relationship between current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for a dental disability (claimed as dental trauma), and service connection for a dental disability for obtaining VA outpatient dental treatment require additional evidence. The case is being remanded to obtain relevant records, conduct examinations, and clarify the nature of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that it was at least as likely as not related to in-service hazardous noise exposure.,The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that it was either incurred in service or is secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and lumbar and thoracic spine disability have all been denied as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or chronicity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the lack of updated VA treatment records and audiograms. The Veteran will be given another opportunity to participate in a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have not been fully developed, as requested VA examinations were not conducted. The case is being remanded to schedule these exams.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss has been reopened, and he is now entitled to a 60 percent disability rating for prostate cancer. His erectile dysfunction is also granted, but at a non-compensable level.,His cervical spine condition remains denied, as does his tinnitus. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hearing loss, prostate cancer, and cervical spine condition.,The Veteran's prostate cancer was previously rated at 100 percent, but that rating is now reduced to 20 percent due to a lack of recurrence or metastasis. His erectile dysfunction remains non-compensable.

The Veteran was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and coronary artery disease, prior to July 22, 2019. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss.,The Board denied entitlement to an initial compensable rating for lipomas, bilateral upper and lower extremities prior to January 12, 2022, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter.,The Board denied entitlement to a separate compensable rating for right upper extremity residual scars associated with lipomas.,The Board denied entitlement to a separate compensable rating for left upper extremity residual scars associated with lipomas.,The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent, and no higher, for chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and spinal fusion prior to January 11, 2022.,The Board denied entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and spinal fusion from January 12, 2022.

The Veteran's hearing loss was rated as noncompensable prior to March 21, 2018 and granted a 30% rating from that date. The effective date for the 30% rating is corrected to March 21, 2018.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasoning in the VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The examiner needs clarification on what constitutes a 'significant threshold shift' and how it applies to the Veteran's case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and right leg conditions, have resulted in a permanent and total disability that precludes locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair. The Board has granted eligibility for specially adapted housing (SAH) benefits based on this finding.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD) are all granted. However, his claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability. His claim for neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is also denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is found to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he died during the pendency of his appeal. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.