Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss has been granted, but the claim for prostate condition and gastric carcinoma remains pending.,A remand is required to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's gastric carcinoma claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for hearing loss, tension headaches, and traumatic brain injury due to new evidence of worsening symptoms. The Veteran will need to undergo updated evaluations for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus has been dismissed. The Board has also remanded cases involving his vertigo and/or Meniere's disease, low back disability, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on unemployability for the period from October 1, 2021 onwards due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted a TDIU for service-connected PTSD prior to December 19, 2019 and denied the claim for a TDIU since that date due to the Veteran's combined disability rating already reaching 100%.

The Veteran's right hand scars are currently evaluated as noncompensable due to the lack of an area or areas meeting the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's right foot fracture residuals have been granted a 20 percent rating, subject to further review and remand if necessary.,Bilateral hearing loss has not met the criteria for a compensable rating based on current evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial disability ratings for asbestosis, bilateral hearing loss, left upper extremity weakness, and right upper extremity weakness were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating higher than the current assigned ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted as his current hearing loss disability is related to noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to April 25, 2012 is being remanded for extraschedular consideration due to insufficient evidence of unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The other claims of service connection have been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss disability ratings due to unclear findings regarding his pre-service hearing condition and potential aggravation during service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as his representative withdrew the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, hip, wrist, hand, leg, shoulder, spine, and hearing loss disabilities due to incomplete information in the record. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for VA to obtain his private treatment records and undergo examinations to determine if any of these conditions are related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for an extra-schedular evaluation based on functional impairment of earning capability.

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 noise exposure or chronic symptoms related to these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent since May 8, 2020. The evidence does not support a higher rating or extraschedular consideration.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and intractable plantar keratoma of the right foot and left foot, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete service records, particularly those from the Veteran's National Guard service. The issues of right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not considered a disability for VA purposes.,For the period prior to March 7, 2022, his back disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating. For the period from March 7, 2022 onward, there was no evidence of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less.