Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since June 30, 2016. The VA determined that the level of her hearing acuity did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and hypertension. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were otherwise related to active service.,For skeletal arthritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and bowel disability, the Board also denied service connection as there was no persuasive evidence of their onset in service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including schizophrenia. The case is remanded for further development and examination to determine if any of these conditions had their onset during active service or are otherwise related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as well as whether his preexisting condition was aggravated by service. The claim will be reopened but not necessarily granted.

The Board has granted service connection for left-ear hearing loss but has remanded the issue of right-ear hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that he does not have a current disability of such severity to constitute a VA compensation disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 13, 2012. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from that date.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is granted for the Veteran's low back disability due to in-service injury, while her claim for bilateral hearing loss was not supported by evidence of current disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and aortic aneurysm, finding that there was no in-service event or link to service. The claim for increased rating of bilateral hearing loss prior to September 23, 2020, was also denied.,For erectile dysfunction, the Board found that the Veteran's disability had been manifested by loss of erectile power without deformity of the penis since September 23, 2020, and thus did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed due to lack of VA examinations and new evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and an opinion regarding whether hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of TBI, sleep apnea, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability and TDIU was denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is service-connected as a result of exposure to acoustic trauma during active duty, and the Board has granted presumptive service connection based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the service connection for bilateral hearing loss before a decision was made.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus are granted as service connected.,Service connection for chronic upper respiratory infections is remanded. Service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. However, the appeal is dismissed as these claims have been fully resolved.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, and his TDIU claim prior to May 16, 2019, was denied due to the presence of other service-connected disabilities that allowed him to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the case for further examination and consideration of bilateral hearing loss.