Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for obtaining additional private treatment records and for VA examinations to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including vertigo, dizziness, back pain, hearing loss, PTSD, and MDD, prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the Veteran is unemployable due to his disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for an ear disorder other than bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and a back disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain additional private treatment records from Dr. J.M. of the Southern Clinic and Dr. D.E. of the Southeast Pain Management Center.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, which satisfies the requirement for a single disability rated as 100 percent. However, his other service-connected disabilities do not independently rate at 60 percent or more, thus denying entitlement to SMC based on housebound status.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and major depressive disorder were granted. However, his increased rating claims for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy under Diagnostic Code 8520, and left lower extremity radiculopathy under Diagnostic Code 8520 were denied.

The Veteran's appeals for various service-connected conditions have been dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and inguinal hernia render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to November 5, 2015.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, but his bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board denied service connection for facial pain, bilateral knee disability, visual impairment, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II (DM2), PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions listed.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is related to acoustic trauma in service.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, as it is unclear whether the Veteran has submitted a completed VA Form 21-8940 and/or VA Form 21-4192. The Veteran's TDIU application status needs to be clarified.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and benefits have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all remaining claims.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a causal link between the Veteran's current hearing loss and his military service.

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

The Veteran's skin disorder (other than chloracne), bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and vision impairment were not incurred or aggravated during service.,There is no evidence of a current disability for any of the conditions in question.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The claims for service connection and disability rating have not been decided.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if his current bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service.