Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but denied service connection for a dental disability for compensation purposes and remanded the issue of service connection for a dental disability for outpatient VA treatment.

The Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of the assigned evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and anterior trunk residual scars have been denied. The RO granted a 50 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss from January 6, 2015 to February 6, 2019.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service onset or relationship to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as zero percent disabling, as the audiometric test results do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has found that the original May 2017 VA examination for the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus was inadequate. As a result, the Veteran's claims were remanded to obtain addendum medical nexus opinions. However, no such medical opinion was obtained. The Board finds substantial compliance of the Board's May 2019 remand directives was not met thus, the claims must once again be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal of the claim for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed. The Board also remanded several other claims, including those for an acquired psychiatric disorder and various musculoskeletal disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's preexisting right ear hearing loss was aggravated by noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and initial ratings for non-convulsive status epilepticus, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable prior to August 21, 2019; 30 percent prior to August 4, 2022; and 40 percent beginning August 4, 2022. The Board found that the current ratings are not warranted.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, leading to the dismissal of these cases.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received for the Veteran's right hip disorder, and as such, the claim is being remanded to allow for further development. The decision on bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The issue of finding the Veteran incompetent to handle VA benefits is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence on file, specifically regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service exposure to hazardous noise. The VA examiners did not properly evaluate the evidence and failed to consider delayed-onset hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to January 29, 2019, for service connection of hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for ischemic cardiomyopathy with supraventricular arrhythmia and valvular heart disease (Post-CABG, Post-MVR) has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical pain, lower back disability, bilateral foot disability, bronchitis, hypertension, stomach injury, ulcer disease, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board found that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service, and that any current conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claim for lumbar strain and laminectomy L4-5 is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error, and the issue of an increased rating for left ear sensorineural hearing loss is inextricably intertwined with the right ear hearing loss grant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The Board finds that the Veteran should have been provided with an audiometric examination, which was not done.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn and dismissed by the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed skin disabilities of the feet, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and bilateral hearing loss disability are not service-connected. The Board found no evidence to support a connection between these conditions and his military service.