Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the VA's acquired opinion regarding left ear hearing loss is inadequate and requires further examination to determine if it is related to active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as well as to address any shift in hearing acuity from his entrance to separation examinations. The claim for service connection for bilateral vision loss remains denied.

The Board denied the reopening of claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the audiometric testing did not show any level of impairment that would warrant a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inconsistent responses during the VA examinations, and further evaluation is needed.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran was found to have current right ear hearing loss and tinnitus that are linked to his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hearing loss disability is not rated appropriately and has ordered a new examination to reassess the severity of his condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is more likely a result of his service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current PTSD had its onset in active service, and his current bilateral hearing loss likely resulted from exposure to hazardous noise during service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The claim for gastrointestinal disorder, to include IBS, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension due to a lack of recent VA audiological examinations and an inaccurate history of symptom onset.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep disability (to include as secondary to PTSD) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was also denied for a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to December 6, 2021, and a rating in excess of 50 percent thereafter.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the issue of service connection for Meniere's disease as secondary to bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral eye disorder, including compound myopia astigmatism and presbyopia, is not service-connected as it is considered a congenital or developmental defect.,Bilateral hearing loss was not shown to be related to service. The Veteran did not have hearing loss within one year of separation from service nor does the evidence support a finding that his current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to service.,Tinnitus was not shown to be related to service. The Veteran did not have tinnitus within one year of separation from service nor does the evidence support a finding that his current tinnitus disability is related to service.,The acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is not shown to be related to service. The Veteran did not have an acquired psychiatric disorder within one year of separation from service nor does the evidence support a finding that his current acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service.,Hypertension was not shown to be related to service. The Veteran did not have hypertension within one year of separation from service nor does the evidence support a finding that his current hypertension disability is related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for latent tuberculosis, eye disabilities, bilateral leg pain, and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete medical examinations.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the Board has remanded this issue.,The Veteran's secondary service connection claim for a vestibular disorder is also remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with no more than Level I in the right ear and no worse than Level II in the left ear.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board found that the Veteran required only restricted diet and an oral glycemic agent during the period on appeal.,Prior to March 6, 2015, the Veteran's right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was manifested by no more than mild incomplete paralysis (10% rating). Beginning March 6, 2015, it is now rated as 20% disabling for moderate incomplete paralysis.,Prior to March 6, 2015, the Veteran's left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was manifested by no more than mild incomplete paralysis (10% rating). Beginning March 6, 2015, it is now rated as 20% disabling for moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his active duty service. The left ear hearing loss was found to have been aggravated by service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the claims for coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure due to potential asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensably disabling, with the highest level of hearing impairment (Level I) in both ears.