Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated as zero percent (noncompensably) disabling, and thus denied a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, specifically questioning the validity of the VA examiner's opinions based on inaccurate facts.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is causally related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for hypertension and carotid artery disability are denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD and bilateral hearing loss have worsened since his last VA examinations, and he has not appeared for recent VA examinations. The Board is remanding the cases to schedule new VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 20, 2020 was denied. The claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss from January 20, 2020 onwards was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for updated VA medical records and private treatment records.

The Board has ordered additional VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as previous opinions were deemed inadequate.

The Veteran's service connection claims for injury of cutaneous sensory nerve at ankle and foot level of the left leg, unspecified mononeuropathy of left lower limb, Conn's syndrome hypertension, left ear hearing loss, anaphylactic sensitivity, COPD, and a back disorder are all granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to engage and retain substantially gainful employment, thus the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a left shoulder disability, finding that there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for an unspecified depressive disorder and opioid use disorder, TBI residuals, tension headaches, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The appeal for service connection for tinnitus has been dismissed as the claim was granted in a previous rating decision.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss secondary to PTSD is denied due to lack of evidence showing it is proximately caused or aggravated by PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to his military service. For the issue of bilateral hearing loss, the case is remanded as a VA examination has not considered the Veteran's November 2021 hearing testimony.

The Veteran's right knee disorder, resulting in a rating of 60 percent from April 12, 2021, is granted. The hearing loss in the left ear is also granted.,Service connection for hearing loss is established due to noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and headaches are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records that need to be obtained.