Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 14, 2017.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability. The claims of service connection for hearing loss and skin disability, to include acne, are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are granted. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD is granted, but the appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at a 10% effective November 25, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in rating beyond this level.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 1, 2017.,Since December 1, 2018, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have also rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus disability is granted as service connected. The issue of his hearing loss disability remains pending and will be remanded for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a chronic disability during service. The January 2021 VA medical opinion concluded that the current bilateral hearing loss is not related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of a disability for VA purposes.

The Board has remanded the cases of initial compensable rating for headaches and higher than 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss disability due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The appeal will be granted if new and material evidence is received.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for left ear hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not support a compensable rating.,The Veteran's initial disability rating for left thumb tendonitis was granted at a noncompensable level.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the appellant withdrew her request for a hearing and requested to withdraw her appeal regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a skin disorder of the right ear, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD is also remanded as there are VA treatment records that have not been obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, OSA, and hemorrhoids due to insufficient examination reports. The AOJ is instructed to review additional evidence added since the February 2021 supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to inadequate medical examinations in the past, and because of the interrelated nature of these conditions. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine if he currently has left ear hearing loss that meets VA criteria for a disability, as well as whether his current right ear hearing loss is related to service noise exposure.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective February 22, 2010 due to her service-connected Traumatic Brain Injury and other disabilities preventing her from securing or maintaining employment.

The Board has determined that additional development is required for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left wrist, status post fracture; service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus; and service connection for left shoulder osteoarthritis. The Veteran will need new VA examinations for these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions began during service and have been recurrent since then.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and arthritis of the left shoulder due to incomplete compliance with previous directives.