Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent from January 28, 2022. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted prior to this date.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasoning in the VA examiner's opinion regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran contends that his current hearing loss is related to noise exposure during service, but the examiner found no evidence of delayed onset hearing loss and did not adequately address secondary service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's current tinnitus is considered a direct result of his military service, while the right ear hearing loss did not manifest during service and does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran did not have current hearing loss disabilities as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease, and bilateral hearing loss, rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment from October 16, 2009, through April 5, 2016. The Board granted a TDIU during this period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death and denied his application for VA survivor's pension due to insufficient evidence showing a causal link between his service-connected conditions and his death, as well as his income exceeding the maximum annual pension rate.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is denied as she does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss. The Board finds the VA medical opinion inadequate and remands for an addendum to address the nature and etiology of tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and left ear hearing loss due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss was aggravated by his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential issues with audiometric test results conversion, as well as recent audiogram results not being available in the VA records.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for a left leg disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has found new and material evidence to support her claims. The appeals are granted in part.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be reviewed again with a new opinion from a clinician.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated during service and is unrelated to in-service noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded for further evaluation due to recent worsening and the need for updated VA audiometric testing.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as they meet the requirements of 38 C.F.R. § 3.385, have been continuous since service separation, and sustained acoustic trauma during service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the lack of a contemporaneous VA examination. The RO must schedule and obtain a VA audiological evaluation.

For the period prior to December 29, 2021, an evaluation in excess of 0 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,For the period beginning December 29, 2021, an increased rating of 30 percent disabling for bilateral hearing loss is granted.,Entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability (to include arthritis) is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability (to include arthritis) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, lower back condition, right foot condition, left shoulder condition, and right arm condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The claim for sleep apnea is also remanded as there are no medical opinions addressing its onset or cause.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability did not have its onset during active duty and was not caused by or related to in-service noise exposure. The opinion of a VA audiologist found that her hearing loss is less likely than not due to service.