Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to procedural issues related to the opt-in process and the implementation of the Modernized Appeals System (AMA).

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, finding insufficient evidence to link these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss from August 18, 2015 to December 18, 2019 and denied a higher rating thereafter. The decision is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and gout have all been granted as they are related to his service.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral polyneuropathy in the right lower, upper extremities, and left lower, upper extremities is granted. The Veteran's hearing loss claim is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, and the Board finds that his bilateral hearing loss warrants a remand for further evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has worsened since his last examination, and a new evaluation is needed to determine the current severity of his condition.

This decision dismisses the appeal for a compensable rating for hearing loss. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent since December 1, 2011. The right shoulder strain was initially rated at 30 percent prior to November 25, 2019, and then denied from that date forward. Right knee strain has been rated at 10 percent overall. Limited flexion of the right knee is rated as degenerative arthritis, while instability is separately rated.,reasoning for summary sentence: The Veteran's conditions were evaluated based on their current manifestations without considering prior ratings or any changes in disability status.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background, resulting in the denial of TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and missing service records. The Veteran's hearing loss is being reviewed again for possible service connection.

The Veteran's service records do not show any hearing loss or tinnitus during service. The VA examiner concluded that the current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are more likely due to workplace noise exposure, aging, and other factors.,There is no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and military service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is denied as there is no evidence of chronic in-service disease or a compensable degree within the presumptive period. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition secondary to service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine and radiculopathy of the lower extremities is granted.,Service connection for left hand strain, left arm condition, right thigh pain, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension (to include as secondary to service-connected conditions), and right hand pain (to include as secondary to service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine) are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding restoration of a 40 percent rating for a lumbosacral spine disability. The service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete information about his National Guard and Reserve service, the need for medical opinions regarding spinal disorders, hearing loss/tinnitus, left ankle disorder, and bilateral knee disorders, as well as further development of employment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss as there is no current disability, and the evidence does not establish a nexus to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective May 1, 2016. The Board has now determined that the earlier effective date of November 1, 2010 should be granted as part of the initial increased rating claim for PTSD.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection of right ear hearing loss disability due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to an in-service football head injury.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent disabling, and the Board has determined that a compensable rating is not warranted.