Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and the case is remanded for further development regarding his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for prostate cancer residuals and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Veteran is already in receipt of the maximum schedular rating available for voiding dysfunction due to urinary incontinence, which is rated at 60 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and memory loss.

The Veteran's right and left arm disabilities are granted as service-connected. The claims for OSA, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension remain pending due to remand requirements.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule, and his conditions are rated as noncompensably disabling prior to March 31, 2015; as 20 percent disabling from March 31, 2015 to June 5, 2018; as 40 percent disabling from June 6, 2018 to August 3, 2020, and as 60 percent disabling from August 4, 2020. The claims for service connection were also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder, and radiculopathy of bilateral lower extremities due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are being reviewed again as they may be related to service.

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

Service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and tinnitus is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.,The Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral plantar fasciitis and tinnitus are related to his service-connected disabilities, specifically bilateral anterior crural neuritis and hearing loss respectively.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a link between his current hearing loss and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss disability is not related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection. The remaining issues of right hip, back, and TBI disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as the previous opinion was not thorough enough and did not consider recent research on delayed onset noise-induced hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right foot condition has been reopened and granted. The case of bilateral hearing loss is remanded, and the issue of service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to a service-connected left wrist disability is also remanded.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis due to his service-connected right foot osteoarthrosis, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss since October 4, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantial gainful employment, warranting a TDIU effective December 20, 2000. The Board also remanded the issue of whether a TDIU is warranted prior to December 20, 2000.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder condition, and headache condition due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset or causation.

The Board has ordered a remand for an addendum opinion to determine the date of onset and etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss, including consideration of Dr. Kujawa's research on delayed onset noise-induced hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss. However, the claims for left ear sensorineural hearing loss and lung condition (COPD) are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as his disabilities are not severe enough to meet the criteria for a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for gouty arthritis, an increase in a 10 percent rating for low back degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, and entitlement to TDIU due to incomplete development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.