Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since August 1, 2012. From January 29, 2020, the Veteran is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, right ankle injury, right shoulder injury, and low back injury due to potential outstanding service treatment records. The psychiatric disability claim is also remanded for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating and an earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed. The claim for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for coronary artery disease has been denied, as the evidence does not meet the criteria for such a rating. The claim for an earlier effective date for coronary artery disease has also been denied due to lack of applicable law.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder, hypertensive vascular disease (hypertension), and heart disabilities are also granted as secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided that service connection for tinnitus is granted, but the hearing loss case needs to be remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected. The Veteran's bilateral leg condition is remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted a TDIU and established basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance Benefits based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension and right ear hearing loss, as well as his appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, have been dismissed due to untimely filing of notices of disagreement.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are attributable to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychological disorder has been withdrawn and is therefore dismissed.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a disability evaluation in excess of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss was denied, as the evidence did not meet the criteria for such a higher rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability are granted as service connected due to noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current kidney disorder, and his claims for hyperthyroidism (Graves' Disease), eye disorder, GERD, right shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss, and lumbar spine disability are remanded due to incomplete medical records and need further examination.

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

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and any related peripheral vestibular disorder. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear conductive hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is in relative equipoise with her in-service complaints and diagnoses. The appeal is therefore granted.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, right and left ankle disorders, right and left hip disorders, obstructive sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new examination.

The Veteran's death was not service connected, and the claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied because the Veteran did not meet the eligibility requirements with a 100% disability rating for at least 10 years immediately preceding his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused his need for aid and attendance, but did not cause him to be housebound. Therefore, the Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance, but denied SMC based on housebound status.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted.,The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claims of right and left knee disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.