Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and low back disability, finding no evidence of current disabilities meeting VA criteria. The claim for left ankle disability was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran did not meet the auditory threshold requirements for a hearing loss disability under VA regulations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 50 percent effective March 8, 2021. No higher rating is warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for another VA examination regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's hearing loss and lumbar spine disability claims are denied. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim is reopened, but the benefit sought on appeal (service connection) remains remanded.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been manifested as Level II in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating. The Board finds that the criteria for an initial compensable rating have not been met at any point during the appeal period and denies the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran served as a mortarman and was exposed to noise during service, but his current hearing loss may not have started in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 70 percent, and the appeal for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for further development. The issues include arthritis, hearing loss, cold weather injuries, hemorrhoids, hiatal hernia, GERD, hepatitis C, erectile dysfunction, carpal tunnel syndrome, and a psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected right ear hearing loss and left shoulder disability have not met the schedular criteria for a TDIU. The case is being remanded to determine if he qualifies for an extraschedular TDIU based on his unemployability due to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence received since the last final denial. The Veteran's current symptoms are conceded, but a medical opinion is needed to determine if his hearing loss and tinnitus had their onset in service.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, and rhinitis due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board has granted a TDIU as of May 10, 2021, due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right hip disability and hearing loss as they are related to service-connected ankle and knee disabilities. The claims will be reviewed with new medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claim for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss is related to his military service, including noise exposure during bridge crew duties and post-service hunting. The examiner must consider the Veteran's current hearing loss disability and provide a rationale for any opinion.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, heart disability, prostatitis, left ear hearing loss, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The reasons given were that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's service-connected right ear hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent (non-compensable) due to audiometric testing results which, when combined with the non-service-connected left ear, merit a Roman numeral of I. This results in a zero percent (non-compensable) rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities, particularly those related to his right ankle disability.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to January 27, 2020 and denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 20 percent prior to August 1, 2018 and denied a higher rating.,Since August 1, 2018, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is now rated at 40 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss disorder due to additional development of evidence.