Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus, as well as service connection for COPD and a low back disability. The appellant withdrew his appeals prior to the decision being made.

Your appeal to have hearing loss considered for service connection has been dismissed because the appellant withdrew their request.

An earlier effective date of March 25, 2011 is granted for a 70 percent rating for PTSD.,An earlier effective date of August 8, 2017 is granted for SMC at the housebound rate.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active service, and the Veteran's claim is based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as zero percent (noncompensable) due to the severity of his hearing acuity.,Service connection for a right hand disability was denied because there is no evidence that it originated in service or until years after service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, granting his claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, liver disease (to include hepatitis B), gastrointestinal disorder (to include IBS and/or Crohn's disease), low back disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, kidney disease, heart disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for these conditions must be remanded to obtain VA examinations.

The Veteran's initial and subsequent ratings for left ear hearing loss and bilateral hearing loss have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations.,The Veteran's Bilateral Hearing Loss is not compensably rated prior to July 13, 2022.,The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 30 percent effective November 8, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable (0 percent) due to the severity of his hearing acuity, which is at Level I in each ear. The Board found that a compensable rating was not warranted based on the audiometric test results.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, specifically whether it is related to service, including a motor vehicle accident and noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as she does not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection for cataracts. The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding it was incurred during service due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam and granting it under the PACT Act of 2022. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) secondary to diabetes mellitus is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is consistent with his in-service noise exposure and resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted by the agency of original jurisdiction. The claims for other conditions have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and his in-service noise exposure. A new medical opinion is needed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is at least an even balance of evidence to support a finding that his current hearing loss disability is related to in-service acoustic trauma.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. A rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD is denied.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from substantially gainful employment, but a TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer is found to be the proximate cause of his current unspecified anxiety disorder. His right ear hearing loss is considered a disability for purposes of service connection, but there is insufficient evidence to establish that it manifested within one year of service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for Parkinsonian tremors, throat disability (including strep throat), esophageal disability (including gastroesophageal reflux disease, esophageal erosions, residuals of Zenker's diverticulum, and esophageal dysmotility), right-ear hearing loss, and sleep apnea due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran was not provided with all relevant treatment records from the 1980s and his private medical providers' records are missing. Additionally, the VA examinations were inadequate in addressing the Veteran's claims.