Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including consideration of new VA treatment records and hospitalization reports. The issues include rating adjustments for various conditions and service connection for additional disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. The case is REMANDED to obtain addendum opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertension, heart disorder (claimed as ischemic heart disease), and TDIU claims.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again with additional evidence and opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is assigned a noncompensable (0 percent) rating prior to September 24, 2015 and a 40 percent disability rating thereafter. The Board denied the claim for higher ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and TDIU prior to August 27, 2015. The evidence did not support a finding that his sleep apnea was related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disorder. Additionally, the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of right ear hearing loss and its relation to service. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with a new opinion from a VA clinician.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than August 4, 2014 for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression has been reopened due to new evidence relating to a nexus to service or service-connected disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C has been reopened due to new evidence relating to a nexus to service or service-connected disability.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and headaches have been remanded as the current severity of these conditions needs to be determined.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and bilateral hearing loss due to outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and various other conditions are granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current disabilities were related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA treatment records and an incomplete addendum opinion regarding his hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran did not have a current disability at the time of filing and his left ear hearing loss was due to aging, while his right ear hearing loss did not meet VA's definition of disability.

The Board has decided to remand three issues: bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability rating, and TDIU. The Veteran will be given another opportunity for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected.,Further development is needed for the bilateral hearing loss claim.

The Board has decided that there are outstanding VA treatment records needed to determine the severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability. The case is being sent back for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is granted, with the decision finding that his current hearing loss disability is related to noise exposure during military service.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed because the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss renders his claim moot. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of current hearing loss disability by VA standards in either ear.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to April 20, 2021 was denied. The claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss from April 20, 2021 was also denied.