Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence in the June 2016 VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as secondary to a service-connected disability. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right knee injury are remanded for further examination and rating.

The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to assess the Veteran's current hearing loss and determine its relationship to service. Additionally, a new medical opinion is required regarding whether the Veteran's tinnitus and shaving condition are related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service connected, but the VA has not evaluated its current severity. The Board remanded to obtain updated treatment records and schedule a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and lung conditions to include COPD and sleep apnea due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The Veteran's testimony will be considered in determining whether his current hearing loss, COPD, and sleep apnea are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful course of employment, warranting a TDIU for the period from January 6, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of March 1, 2011. Prior to this date, he was employed part-time and later became unemployed due to his back condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to outstanding medical records and a need for additional opinion regarding in-service noise exposure.

The Board has denied an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea are remanded.,VA provided the Veteran with a Sleep Apnea examination in July 2021, but the examiner did not consider all relevant factors and risk factors for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the claims at this time.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, as well as his TDIU claim due to new evidence received since the last statement of the case.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination. The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD was withdrawn, while the remaining claims are being reviewed again due to lack of recent VA treatment records and need for additional examinations.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, an eye disability (benign vitreous floaters), sleep apnea, and a heart disorder. The claim for PTSD was also dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been manifested by hearing acuity of no worse than Level II in the right ear and no worse than Level II in the left ear, resulting in a non-compensable rating.,The Board remanded both issues for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and degenerative arthritis of the right ankle, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of July 15, 2010. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete etiology opinion regarding bilateral hearing loss. Additional development is needed, including a VA audiology examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and his tinnitus is rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations.,The Veteran seeks an increased rating for both conditions but has not provided a clear basis for such. The current ratings are considered appropriate based on the schedular criteria.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that his disability warranted a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing loss has not manifested by worse than Level II hearing in the right ear and Level I hearing in the left ear.