Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar I disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss have been granted with effective dates of July 11, 2013.,However, the Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for these grants. The Board finds that the proper effective date cannot be earlier than July 11, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his bilateral hearing loss disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show symptoms warranting a higher rating at any time during the appeal period.

The Board has decided that the earlier effective dates for service connection of various disabilities are remanded due to incomplete documentation regarding scheduling of VA examinations.

The Veteran's cause of death is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it may be significantly impacted by these issues.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination. The Veteran's claims include service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, heart condition, diabetes mellitus, skin condition, back condition, and right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal of his tinnitus claim is denied as he is already in receipt of the maximum schedular rating available for tinnitus. The Board finds that the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his low back disorder, left and right sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and bilateral hearing loss must be remanded due to lack of a recent VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand four issues related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, sleep apnea, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran will need to undergo additional examinations to determine the current severity of his PTSD, as well as whether his sleep apnea is related to his service-connected PTSD or if it was caused by his military service.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of a separate rating for thoracic spine disability was denied as the original decision granting separate ratings was clearly and unmistakably erroneous.,The Veteran is granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, which meet the percentage requirements.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, cervical spine disability, left shoulder disability, diabetes mellitus type II, neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and glaucoma.,Service connection was not granted for any of these conditions as there is no evidence showing they began during or are otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's claims for left hip, right hip, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left foot disabilities are all denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.,There is no indication in the record that the Veteran has any current hip, hearing loss, tinnitus, or foot disabilities at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at a compensable level of 10 percent for the entire appeal period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran is presumed to have noise exposure during service, but his current conditions are not related to this exposure as determined by the VA audiological examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate have been granted. The issues of a higher rating for CAD and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right-ear hearing loss, a neurological disorder (claimed as a seizure disorder and epilepsy), an acquired psychiatric disorder, and vertigo due to internal inconsistencies in the medical opinion regarding the aggravation of his pre-existing right-ear hearing loss during service.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a right forearm disability and remanded the claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, right knee scar status post arthroscopy, and TDIU have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the Board's decision.