Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection and a 40% rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The earliest date that can be assigned as effective is April 18, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new opinion is needed regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss and tinnitus, rendered him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment prior to June 18, 2019.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and medical opinion provided were insufficient to make a decision on the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The case is being remanded again for compliance with prior instructions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted an increased evaluation of 50 percent effective December 23, 2016. The Board found that the evidence showed a consistent decrease in hearing severity prior to this date and granted an earlier effective date of December 23, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and readjudication due to unclear diagnoses and etiology of the Veteran's conditions, including Meniere's disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, and major depressive disorder have been denied. The Veteran is currently rated at the 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder since April 6, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral eye disability, bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, right foot skin condition, and high blood pressure have been reopened. The issues are being remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.,Service connection has not been established for a scar in the lower right side due to kidney surgery or a scar in the posterior trunk.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss configuration and its relation to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of right knee, right ankle, bilateral eye, and tinnitus disabilities have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the remaining issues: nose/sinus disability, left knee disability, cervical spine disability, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions originated during active service. The Veteran's competent testimony regarding his symptoms since service supports this determination.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted on a direct basis. The remaining issues are remanded for further development and examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, neck disability, bilateral eye disability, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to active service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss, PTSD, substance abuse disorder, OSA, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The appeal was remanded to clarify the diagnosis and etiology of a TBI.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, and degenerative arthritis of the right knee. The claims were remanded for further development in one case.,Service connection was established for these conditions based on a finding that they are related to service due to exposure to acoustic trauma during active duty.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss disability is reasonably shown to have resulted from acoustic trauma suffered in service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current disability level does not warrant such an increase based on audiometric testing results.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but has remanded the issue of his bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's athlete's foot is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD) is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's migraines, to include as secondary to tinnitus, are remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's hearing loss is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's back pain is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's pain and limited use of the jaw is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's eye pain and scars status post surgical repair are remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's plates in the entire face status post facial surgeries are remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's scars of the face and head are remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's type I diabetes is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's bladder cancer is granted service connection based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The issues of an increased rating for PTSD, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus are remanded.