Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, heart disorder, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, and right leg neuropathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no current disability due to hearing loss as defined by VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to March 7, 2017. The Board denied entitlement to a TDIU on this basis.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo are granted as service connected. The claim for bilateral toe disabilities is remanded due to outstanding VA medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU rating effective April 21, 2011 due to his service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus preventing him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 2, 2017 for the grant of a 10 percent evaluation for trigeminal nerve disorder is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for migraine headaches are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD and alcohol abuse is granted, while his hearing loss claim remains pending due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate opinions in the September 2021 VA opinion. The examiner is asked to address the Veteran's reports of hearing loss upon separation, at an October 1981 VA examination, as well as his documented in-service treatment for chronic otitis media and upper respiratory infections.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and arteriosclerotic heart disease, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of October 15, 2015. His TDIU was granted effective from that date.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence supports a link between these conditions and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are attributable to his active military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his education and professional experience are sufficient for him to obtain and maintain substantial employment despite his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for left ear hearing loss, low back disability, and tinnitus due to insufficient examination opinions addressing the Veteran's self-reported history of symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is not causally related to his military service and did not manifest within one year of discharge.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient rationale in the VA opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and colon cancer are being remanded due to the need for additional development.