Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral dry eye syndrome is granted with a 20% initial disability rating, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and heart disability due to potential service connection issues. The Veteran's left and right carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) are denied as there is no evidence of in-service or post-service etiology.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as remanded other issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right index finger synovitis, lower back condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder) due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claims are not currently granted as there is no clear or competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing left ear hearing loss was aggravated by service. The case is now pending for further development and a new opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for the Veteran's right elbow and wrist disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not related to his military service, as evidenced by normal hearing at entry and separation. The current hearing loss does not meet VA disability criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since April 8, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to December 31, 2015. The Board denied the claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected conditions were deemed adequate compensation.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including left ear hearing loss, cardiac disability, cervical spine disability, hip disabilities, knee disabilities, ankle disabilities, and shoulder and foot disabilities. The decision is based on the lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is likely related to service, including exposure to noise during service. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to February 23, 2018 was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.,From February 23, 2018, the Veteran's claim for TDIU was dismissed because he is already eligible for special monthly compensation based on a 100% disability rating for bladder cancer and combined evaluations of his other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's right ear hearing loss, and further examination is needed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since May 22, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (tinnitus, hearing loss, and lumbar disc disease) have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from September 16, 2013 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete audiometric test results and inadequate speech recognition testing. The Veteran needs updated VA treatment records, complete audiometry results from December 2017, and a new VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a blood disorder (anemia and myeloproliferative disorder (Jak 2+)), and a heart condition (atrial flutter and fibrillation) have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including eye condition (retinopathy), bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy. The issues are being remanded due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus, have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since October 5, 2017. The Board has granted a TDIU effective that date.