Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the Veteran not having sufficient hearing loss in either ear. The claims of service connection for hypertension and a respiratory condition, as well as right elbow and neck conditions are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for higher SMC rates was denied as he did not meet the criteria for additional disabilities that would warrant a higher level of SMC.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he was attending school and had legal issues preventing employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the issues of rating and service connection remain pending. The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen his claims for left ear hearing loss and bilateral knee degenerative joint disease, but has also determined that additional examinations are needed due to the complexity of the issues.

The Board denied service connection for a pulmonary disability, including residuals of pneumonia. The Veteran's appeal was not timely filed and the decision became final.,New evidence received since the denial did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim for service connection for a pulmonary disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for cervical spine disability and memory loss have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran withdrew all his appeals regarding service connection for various conditions and increased ratings, including bilateral hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, headaches, heart disability, GERD, somatic symptom disorder/unspecified depressive disorder, and TDIU.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to in-service noise exposure.,His bilateral foot disability is linked to service due to chronic use of ill-fitting combat boots.

Service connection for type 2 diabetes, as secondary to an in-service exposure to Agent Orange, has been granted.,Service connection for RLE peripheral neuropathy and LLE peripheral neuropathy, both considered secondary to service-connected type 2 diabetes, have also been granted.

The Board has ordered a remand for the Veteran to undergo a VA examination to assess his current bilateral hearing loss, as he missed a previous scheduled exam due to being hospitalized.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been manifested by hearing acuity of no worse than Level III in the right ear and no worse than Level I in the left ear. The criteria for a compensable rating have not been met.

Service connection is granted for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, both of which are service-connected under direct criteria.,The Veteran's cervical spine/neck disability, residuals of head injury, migraines, seizure disorder, lumbar spine disability, disabilities of the bilateral upper extremities, to include shoulder, arm, and radiculopathy, as well as left ear hearing loss, remain in appellate status.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, acute maxillary sinusitis, rhinitis, right leg fungus, left leg fungus, tinea pedis of the right foot, tinea pedis of the left foot, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted. The effective dates are not specified as they were all granted in a June 2018 rating decision.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, leaving no issues for further consideration.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated medical records.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the condition began during active service and persisted since then.,Service connection for hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence linking current hearing impairment to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not caused by or related to active-duty service, and the Board denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that he was engaged in substantially gainful employment and did not meet the schedular requirements for consideration of a TDIU.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right ankle disability, which he contends is due to an injury sustained during his military service. The Board finds that this issue requires further development and remands the case.