Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's claimed conditions are related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and vertigo (now to include Meniere's disease) due to incomplete examinations and lack of relevant medical records. The Veteran will need to undergo further examination and obtain any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted as the evidence shows a current disability and noise exposure during service, with no significant threshold shifts detected. The positive private opinion of record supports a nexus between the current condition and service.

The Board has remanded the claim for additional development due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to service, including noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted at a 50% rating effective November 14, 2019. The claim for increased ratings for other conditions remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability. The cervical spine and thoracic spine disabilities, as well as the peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the VA examination conducted in August 2016 was inadequate and remanded for further evaluation. The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being returned to the RO for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting bilateral hearing loss was aggravated beyond normal progression during active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for clarification of the December 2019 private audiometric evaluation and review of all outstanding VA treatment records. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU from January 11, 2011 to November 1, 2020 will also be considered.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of non-VA medical expenses incurred on November 28, 2015, at St. Peter's Hospital was denied because the VA facility (Fort Harrison Emergency Room) was feasibly available and prior authorization was not obtained.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that his hearing had worsened to a level warranting a compensable rating before January 26, 2022, or a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether it was incurred in service, while the claim for tinnitus has been granted based on presumed service connection due to noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as service connected, and he is granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to June 25, 2007 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board denied a higher rating. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated as 20 percent disabling.,The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to TDIU due to the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, heart disorder, and tinnitus are being remanded to the RO for further consideration of new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.