Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new examination and consideration of whether an extraschedular rating is warranted for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's symptoms of dizziness, ear wetness, and ear pain are not contemplated by the current schedular criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, reopened the claim for bilateral hearing loss, and remanded the issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disorder and hearing loss due to new evidence received since April 2018. The claims are being remanded for further development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than November 9, 2016, for the grant of service connection for a hernia repair scar was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence showing any communication prior to November 9, 2016, indicating intent to file such a claim.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and right ear hearing loss were both remanded as the evidence did not support current diagnoses of these conditions. The Board noted that there was no recent diagnosis of left ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

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 had their onset during military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied right ear hearing loss. Service connection is also remanded for arthritis, type II diabetes mellitus, and hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic tuberculosis (TB) was denied due to lack of a clinical diagnosis. New and material evidence has not been received since the last final denial.,Service connection for a back disability is reopened based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran, but the Board finds that there is no competent medical evidence linking the current disability to service or any other condition. The claim remains denied.,The effective date for service connection for bilateral hearing loss cannot be earlier than January 14, 2016, as the Veteran did not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes prior to that date.,Further development is needed on the issues of right knee disability, left knee disability, sinus disability, and obstructive sleep apnea due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to service or any other condition.,The issue of skin cysts remains remanded as there is insufficient information regarding its onset in service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active service due to noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and left ear disability, specifically whether he was wearing his hearing aids during previous examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric disorder and recurrent kidney stones, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) as the Veteran requested withdrawal of these issues.

The Board has determined that the VA opinion is inadequate and requires a new one to address the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, specifically considering his duties as an airman in service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 40 percent, but not higher. The decision is based on the results of a November 2016 private audiometric examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss worsened within one year of his claim, and a 20 percent disability rating is granted for the period from March 18, 2015 to June 22, 2015.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a bilateral hand disability. However, further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a significant threshold shift in his hearing during or after service and concluding that his current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right and left ankle disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The VA examinations are needed to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and left ankle disability due to new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for all three conditions.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for a bilateral hearing loss disability and determined that it is related to noise exposure during active service. The Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss supports this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, based on his history, education, skill, and training.