Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities meeting VA compensation criteria, and the medical opinions indicate that these conditions are not related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, COPD, and muscular dystrophy due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset or relationship to service.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for further development and opinion regarding service connection for low back disorder, posttraumatic headaches and dizziness, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted, and the hearing loss claims are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented sufficient to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's tinnitus, chronic low back pain and spasm, and service-connected hearing loss have been granted. The character of discharge issue is remanded.,Service connection for a scar of the left third finger, hypertension, skin disability (athlete's foot), and dizziness are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the lack of a statement of the case.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing impairment is etiologically linked to his active-duty service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent prior to February 11, 2022 and at 40 percent from that date.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues are remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a TDIU was dismissed as moot due to the grant of TDIU for the entire appeal period.,The reduction in disability rating for bilateral hearing loss from 20 to 10 percent, effective February 3, 2017, was improper and has been restored.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent disabling prior to October 23, 2019, for IHD was denied.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent disabling prior to December 11, 2019, for IHD was denied.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent prior to January 10, 2017, for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) was denied.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 70 percent disabling for PTSD was denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated as noncompensable prior to August 17, 2018. From August 17, 2018 to August 24, 2021, a 20% rating was granted for the disability. After August 24, 2021, no higher rating is warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss. The claim will be reviewed again with a new examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is related to in-service hazardous noise exposure.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as he failed to provide the necessary information and evidence to support his claim, including a completed VA Form 21-8940 application for increased compensation based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted based on the Veteran's credible account of in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient rationale in the VA medical opinions provided. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and otitis externa are at issue, with a need for addendum opinions addressing causation and aggravation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions began during active service and have persisted since then.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is related to his military service.