Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance as to whether these conditions were incurred during service due to acoustic trauma.

The Board has denied a rating greater than 10 percent for the appellant's service-connected right ear hearing loss, as his current disability ratings are based on the audiometry results provided.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, but the evidence does not meet the criteria to establish a current disability.,Service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no credible evidence linking it to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss due to the Veteran not meeting the current criteria for a disability. The issue of total disability due to individual unemployability prior to October 23, 2021 is remanded as the AOJ did not obtain updated employment information.

The Board has remanded the claim for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss due to incomplete audiometric test results from December 2019. The Veteran's actual numeric test results need to be associated with their claims file.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which is a substantial factor in causing his sleep apnea.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is related to in-service noise exposure and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The petition to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus is granted. The issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for chondromalacia, left knee; service connection for a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression with polysubstance abuse); service connection for bilateral hearing loss; and service connection for tinnitus are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no current disability as defined by VA standards.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss. The Veteran is requested to provide a new medical opinion.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to inadequate reasoning in a previous VA medical opinion and the need for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting findings in a study about noise exposure and hearing loss. Further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma, and service connection for this condition has been granted.,There is no persuasive evidence that the Veteran currently has a left knee disability that began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability may be related to in-service ear infections, but needs further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's left knee disorder, diagnosed as patellofemoral joint compartment degenerative joint disease, is granted service connection. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss claim is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been granted, including degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine, arthritis in both knees, radiculopathy affecting both upper extremities, right ear hearing loss, migraine headaches, depressive disorder, and erectile dysfunction.,Service connection is established for all claimed conditions due to their direct link to service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not rated compensably, but he meets the criteria for a TDIU rating due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to March 17, 2021, and granted a 10 percent rating thereafter. The Veteran's hearing impairment was rated based on the results of puretone audiometry tests.

Service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and bilateral flatfoot/pes planus is denied. Service connection for right ear hearing loss is remanded.