Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran, through her authorized representative, requested withdrawal of all issues related to PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee pain, and left knee pain.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of a higher rating for PTSD and alcohol abuse due to increased symptomatology since the last examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases in its decision regarding TDIU, specifically addressing whether the Veteran is capable of sedentary work.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed Auditory Processing Disorder and granted a higher initial disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD from August 6, 2015 to October 15, 2019.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals regarding timeliness of a submission of a Notice of Disagreement for an earlier effective date for fracture of the right hand, 5th metacarpal and an earlier effective date prior to March 15, 2017 for service connection of PTSD. The claims for service connection for back disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to PTSD, right wrist disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a scheduling issue and requests for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a statement of the case on several issues, including those related to radiculopathy, frostbite, hearing loss, dizziness and vertigo, respiratory disability, right knee chondromalacia patella, gastric ulcer, chronic headaches, allergic rhinitis, cervical strain, and lumbar paravertebral myositis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his right hand condition, left ear high pitched hearing loss, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient opinions in previous examinations. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened. The claim for a higher rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is denied, but the claim for right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) and left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) has been granted with ratings in excess of 20 percent beginning March 6, 2018. The claims for higher ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) and left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition had its onset in service and is related to noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is reopened, but the case is remanded to obtain an addendum VA opinion regarding his in-service audiological examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU for the appeal period prior to April 1, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not caused by his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and left ankle disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and neurological disorder (Sydenham's chorea) due to potential issues with current diagnoses or functional impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, including from January 27, 2022. The Board granted a TDIU based on the combined schedular rating of 80% for his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as secondary to his service-connected hypertension. The appeal is being returned to the VA Regional Office for further development.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to PTSD, spinal disabilities, hearing loss, fibromyalgia, and other conditions. The Veteran's VA treatment records need to be updated, and she needs to undergo additional examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected disabilities.