Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, unspecified headaches, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined rating of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been granted. The claim for arthritis of the right hand is being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is not related to active service and did not manifest within one year of separation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of compliance with prior remand directives. The examiner concluded that the Veteran did not have hearing impairment for VA purposes, attributed his hearing loss to ageing and post-service occupational noise exposure, and concluded that his tinnitus was less likely related to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has found that the VA addendum opinions are inadequate for adjudicative purposes and remanded both issues of service connection due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left eye disorder, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and headaches have been granted. Service connection is established for tinnitus due to exposure to noise during service, but not for the other conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of hemorrhoid surgery, and tinnitus are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to procedural issues, including incorrect use of a form for appeal.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for hearing loss and service connection for elbow tendonitis are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected conditions and his claimed disabilities.

The Board has vacated the March 23, 2021 decision due to the Veteran's death prior to issuance. Service connection for multiple myeloma, ventricular arrhythmias, GERD, and bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and a rating higher than 10 percent for his left knee disability are denied. However, he is granted a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the left knee throughout the period under consideration. The remaining claims (for GERD, cervical strain, and sleep disorder) are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military noise exposure. Reasonable doubt is resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been manifested by hearing acuity of no worse than Level I in the right ear and no worse than Level I in the left ear. The criteria for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss have not been met.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and its link to in-service noise exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability is not related to service, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a respiratory and/or pulmonary disability, including COPD. The claims are being returned to VA for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence received since the last final decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claim of an effective date earlier than March 31, 2014, for the grant of service connection for hearing loss is denied. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ear hearing loss due to inadequate VA examination results.