Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is found to be related to his active service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no diagnosed disability during the period on appeal and insufficient evidence to establish a link between current hearing loss and military noise exposure.

The Board has found insufficient evidence to make an informed decision on the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The case is being remanded for further evaluation and consideration of all relevant evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. Service connection for coronary artery disease and left ear hearing loss are remanded due to missing records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee limitation of extension, right knee limitation of flexion, and right knee instability due to incomplete examinations and lack of consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and a headache disorder (including migraine and migraine variants).,The Veteran's right and left foot disorders are not currently addressed in this decision.

The Board has granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to service-connected disabilities. The increased rating, SMC, and TDIU claims are remanded as the Veteran's private treatment records have not been obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the claim for TDIU.

The Board has dismissed all appeals related to various conditions, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee condition, and muscle tear of the left arm. The appellant withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's lumbar disc herniation, stenosis, and radiculopathy are granted as secondary to service-connected conditions. The issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is dismissed. Bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and back disability have been reopened. The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issues of bilateral hearing loss and back disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for left and right knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Board has found that a remand is needed to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examination and lack of evidence regarding his current condition.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for left and right ear hearing loss due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not caused by her active military service, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for left hand and right hand disabilities are denied due to lack of competent, credible evidence linking the conditions to service.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back strain and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, as well as his TDIU claim, are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals regarding his bilateral hearing loss and low back disability have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran while the appeal was pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a back disability, bilateral knee and shoulder disabilities, bilateral hip and ankle disabilities, and prostate disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,Specifically, the Board finds that these claims are inextricably intertwined with the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 50 percent from April 15, 2015 onwards. The Board denied both the request for a higher rating and the TDIU claim due to lack of evidence showing he was unemployable.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was denied as the evidence did not show he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions prior to August 17, 2011.