Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently manifested by Level X hearing in the right ear and Level I hearing in the left ear, resulting in a 10 percent rating. The Board has determined that this level of hearing impairment does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appeal is moot due to his death. The Board lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss and right sciatic nerve radiculopathy are remanded due to the need for updated examination results. Effective date claims are also remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the rating claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus Type II, severe sinus problems, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, right foot injury, and right hip injury due to insufficient development and lack of informed decision.

The Board dismissed all claims pending before the Board except for the claim for TDIU from July 30, 2010 to September 22, 2013. The Veteran was found to be unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed. The claim for service connection of upper extremity peripheral neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus II has been reopened, and the claim is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's hearing loss has not been reassessed in over seven years, and he testified that his tinnitus is also a problem. Therefore, another VA examination is needed to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss and whether it causes or aggravates his tinnitus.,The Veteran contends that his GERD warrants a higher rating than 10 percent. The most recent examination was in December 2014, which does not account for his current symptoms such as vomiting and esophageal spasm. Another VA examination is needed to reassess the severity of his GERD.,The Veteran contends that he has esophageal spasm associated with his GERD. The most recent examination noted no esophageal spasm at all, but a private record from 2015 diagnosed him with OSA. An additional VA examination is needed to determine whether the esophageal spasm is related to his GERD or instead attributable to another condition.,The Veteran contends that he has obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to loud snoring during service. The most recent STRs do not indicate any symptoms of OSA, and a private record from 2015 diagnosed him with OSA. An additional VA examination is needed to determine whether his OSA started in service or is related to another condition.,The Veteran contends that he has congestion, including asthma, rhinitis, and sinusitis, which began during service. The most recent STRs do not indicate any symptoms of these conditions, but a private record from 2014 diagnosed him with allergic rhinitis. An additional VA examination is needed to determine whether his current condition is related to service or another condition.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for psoriatic arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as the earliest possible effective dates have already been assigned.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his current disability picture does not warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining updated VA treatment records, determining the nature and etiology of any bilateral hearing loss, identifying any current left shoulder disability, providing an addendum medical opinion regarding the breast condition, and assessing the severity of service-connected PTSD.

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

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including bilateral hearing loss, various musculoskeletal conditions, and GERD. The Veteran was not provided with VA examinations or medical opinions regarding these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service records and an inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The Board has also remanded several other issues for further development and clarification of the evidence.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for an anxiety disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability has also been reopened and granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for bilateral hearing loss from 20 percent to 10 percent, effective January 1, 2017, was proper. The Board found that the evidence showed an improvement in the Veteran's hearing loss since his October 28, 2014 examination and thus warranted a lower disability rating.