Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeals for hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and his bilateral hearing loss is rated at 30 percent. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a rating higher than 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss on an extraschedular basis due to significant interference with employment and related factors not contemplated by the assigned rating.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not prevent him from finding and maintaining gainful employment commensurate with his previous training and experience.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of a headache disability and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of sleep apnea and GERD, as they involve secondary service connection claims.

The Board has decided that service connection is granted for tinnitus, but the case of bilateral hearing loss must be remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of skin cancer are granted service connection. The case is REMANDED for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed thyroid disorder.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded to allow for additional examination and consideration of his case.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded for a new VA audiological examination to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diverticulosis was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his disability level did not warrant such a rating.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for recurrent prostatitis was denied as there was no evidence of urinary tract infection or voiding dysfunction.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for muscle joint pain was denied as the condition did not occur during active service and is unrelated to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable (0 percent) under the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. The Board found that his hearing acuity did not meet criteria for a compensable rating based on audiometric testing results.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability may have existed prior to his service and is seeking clarification on whether it was aggravated by service. The claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied. The left ear hearing loss claim is remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if it was aggravated by service or preexisted service. The tinnitus claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the left ear hearing loss claim.

The Board denied a higher initial disability rating for the service-connected left ear sensorineural hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, sleep apnea, a psychiatric disorder (anxiety), sarcoidosis, squamous cell carcinoma (cancer of the head and neck), residuals of a tonsillectomy, scar status post thoracotomy, right ear hearing loss, and right shoulder disability due to in-service exposure to acoustic trauma. The claims are being remanded for further development including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's migraine headaches are causally related to service, including his time at Camp Lejeune.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss because the new evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The reduction of the rating for bilateral hearing loss from 40% to 0% was not proper, and the 40% rating is restored.,The reduction of the rating for right knee instability from 10% to 0% was not proper, and the 10% rating is restored.,The reduction of the rating for painful left calf scar from 10% to 0% was not proper.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to service, specifically his first period of active duty from February 1976 to February 1979. The decision does not address any other conditions or issues.