Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and needs further examination for a proper determination of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link between the condition and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left shoulder arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims. The claim for hypertension is also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity and nature of his condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right ear hearing loss, and a new examination is needed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, dry eye syndrome, tension and migraine headaches, and vertigo associated with his service-connected TBI are all granted. The rating for the dry eye syndrome is separate from the TBI rating, as it is a residual of the TBI.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection. The ratings for left knee limitation of flexion, right knee instability, and right knee limitation of flexion are denied. A separate initial rating of 10 percent for left knee instability is granted. The Veteran's right knee scars do not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his military noise exposure and his current hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to the need for more information and records. The Veteran's service connection claims are not granted as there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability, obstructive sleep apnea, or any other claimed conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen for service connection for sinusitis, left shoulder injury, right ankle condition, bilateral hearing loss, and cold injury of the bilateral upper extremities. The claims are remanded for further development.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues regarding service connection for right ear hearing loss and vertigo.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate October 2019 VA examination, which did not consider a January 2016 hearing test that showed the Veteran met the requirements for hearing loss at the time of his claim. The examiner is asked to provide a new opinion on whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss had onset in service or was related to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. The decision on bilateral hearing loss is based on the lack of evidence linking it to service, while tinnitus was found related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a skin condition due to lack of evidence showing current disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and evaluation due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and psychiatric condition, as well as his TDIU claim.