Hearing loss decisions — 2022

Your claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted, but the effective date is not yet determined. The Board dismissed your appeal as there was no longer a case or controversy.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss disability, sinusitis, and ear infections are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran seeks a TDIU prior to April 3, 2017. The Board finds that the Veteran may have been unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to psychiatric symptomatology and hearing loss. However, the criteria for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) are not met. Therefore, the case is remanded for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for COPD was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim prior to a decision.,Service connection for tinnitus and vertigo were denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. Bilateral hearing loss is remanded, and any acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) is also remanded for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current diagnosed condition is at least as likely as not related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension due to insufficient evidence addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted as new and material evidence has been received, and the Board finds that his current hearing loss disability is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability in either ear.

The Board has found that the VA examinations for the Veteran's bilateral knee, hearing loss, and foot disabilities were inadequate. The claims are being remanded to obtain new or adequate VA examination reports.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for her service-connected right ear hearing loss and right foot plantar fasciitis are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and the retrieval of any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of current hearing loss disability and that any potential hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period from September 27, 2019 to July 20, 2020 due to his service-connected disabilities.,From July 21, 2020 onwards, the Veteran's combined rating of 70% allowed him to receive a TDIU without needing to prove unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals. The Board has also remanded several issues for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and examination, including for VA shoulder and cervical spine evaluations. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a right ear hearing loss disability. His left elbow disability claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for secondary service connection to his bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the complexity and need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or continuity of symptoms from service, and the VA examiners concluded that these conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be related to his service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.,Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss as the evidence does not support a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left knee meniscus tear status post repair is granted. The appeal for service connection for left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, esophageal disability (GERD and hiatal hernia), residuals of a right fifth metacarpal contusion, and left ear hearing loss are all remanded.