Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment since April 1, 2006.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for erectile dysfunction and enlarged prostate due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives and the need for an adequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his military service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder (schizophreniform disorder). The effective date of this decision is not earlier than April 29, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 7, 2022, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is being remanded due to the need to associate audiometric test results with his claims file.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical examination and failure to notify the Veteran of a requested VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and asbestosis. Service connection is granted for tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure, but not for bilateral hearing loss or asbestosis.

The Veteran's claims for right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as hearing loss in both ears, and sleep apnea (OSA) were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection due to lack of in-service incurrence or aggravation.,The Veteran's claims for these conditions are based on direct service connection rather than presumptive exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the loss of use of both lower extremities, necessitating constant use of a walker. The Board has granted financial assistance for specially adapted housing but denied the special home adaptation grant as moot.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no persuasive medical evidence or credible lay evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment since April 16, 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and the need for additional VA treatment records. The Veteran is also required to provide clarification on his in-service noise exposure.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for various conditions, including right elbow strain, right wrist strain, bilateral hearing loss, chronic bronchitis, right hip pain, and sinusitis. The claims were also dismissed for left elbow lateral epicondylitis, a rating greater than 20 percent for a right shoulder disability, an effective date earlier than September 1, 2018, for the grant of a 20 percent rating for a right shoulder disability, and an initial compensable rating for surgical scars, right shoulder. The Board also dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and low back disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate hearing and reasons and bases presented by the Board with regard to its extraschedular analysis. The Veteran's symptoms, including social isolation, confusion, and frustration, are not adequately contemplated by the rating criteria for hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss, ringing in ears (tinnitus), lower chin condition, and lower back condition for further development due to new evidence added after the last decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 50 percent, effective July 31, 2018. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating.