Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability and that any potential hearing loss during service was not permanent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's preexisting bilateral hearing loss and its aggravation during service. The VA will obtain any available entrance and separation examination reports, as well as an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding his claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a vestibular disorder, as well as his claim for TDIU. These decisions are based on the Veteran electing to participate in VA's RAMP program.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his back disability is granted with a 20 percent evaluation prior to September 27, 2021 and a 40 percent evaluation from that date. His claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that all four issues are properly before it on appeal and have been remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and examinations to assess the current severity of the Veteran's sarcoidosis, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to outstanding employment and private medical records, as well as SSA disability records. The Veteran is advised to cooperate in providing these records.

The appeal for service connection on all claimed conditions has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 16, 2021, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is remanded due to the inadequacy of the March 2021 VA audiological examination. The examiner was not able to perform impedance testing due to hypersensitivity of the Veteran's ear canals.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss disability has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete evidence and need for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from a VA audiologist.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss prior to August 29, 2014, and a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss from August 29, 2014 to June 17, 2019. These claims are being remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection, while his bilateral hearing loss claim is denied. His right knee disability and instability are each rated at 10 percent throughout the period on appeal, with a 100 percent rating for prosthetic replacement of the left knee joint following implantation.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating issues related to his hearing loss, headaches, right ear hearing loss, PTSD, depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. The appeal was withdrawn by the Veteran during a September 2021 hearing.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability was evaluated as noncompensable, and the Board found that there is no evidence of exceptional pattern of hearing impairment warranting a higher rating. The claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability has been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence added since the February 2017 SOC. The AOJ is instructed to review this additional evidence and readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to evidence of worsening since the last examination and incomplete treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and invites the Veteran to submit additional evidence. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being examined for a nexus to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the effective date of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of tinnitus and denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as Level I at all relevant times.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment throughout the appeal period. The Board denied his claim for TDIU as he is employed full-time.