Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his current disability rating of 0% (noncompensable) remains unchanged due to the lack of evidence showing a compensable level of hearing impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the bilateral hearing loss claim due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current condition had its onset during military service.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to February 28, 2014 (bilateral hearing loss) and January 31, 2018 (CAD) are denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 31, 2018 for TDIU is denied as there was no formal or informal claim filed before that date.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as their relationship to service. The VA examiner will need to address the Veteran's lay statements and buddy statements regarding symptoms of hearing loss in service due to hazardous military noise exposure and hearing difficulties upon his return from Vietnam.

Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety and depression) secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated at 0 percent since April 26, 2013. The Board found no evidence of worsening and denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. Service connection for a lower back disorder, sinus disorder, and sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been reopened and is granted.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disability, cervical spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, low back disability, and skin condition of the left foot have not been reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, leading to the dismissal of these issues.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from October 31, 2014, to November 23, 2016, due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right ear hearing loss and initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a disability rating due to his hearing acuity levels in both ears.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's right knee disability is not related to military service, and his current bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to engage and retain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU effective August 14, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, COPD and pneumonia, skin cancer, a back disability, and a heart disability have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or chronicity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to non-compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left ear hearing loss. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,A 20% rating, but no more, for a urethral tear since April 2, 2014, is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is less likely than not incurred in or related to his military service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.