Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his pure tone thresholds did not meet VA regulatory criteria for a current bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and left ear hearing loss due to incomplete development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to in-service noise exposure. Service connection was denied for obstructive sleep apnea due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss was denied, and his request for an increased evaluation of the left ankle disability from March 5, 2014, was granted with a rating of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee condition, and left knee condition due to incomplete development of records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been rated and are now at their maximum allowable levels. The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on additional disability or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical evidence and conflicting service dates. The Veteran's hearing loss and psychiatric disorder claims are pending further examination and development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected as it did not have onset during or within one year after separation from service and there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure that could cause the current condition.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is not service-connected as there is no evidence showing its onset during service or being related to an in-service event, injury, or disease. The diagnosis was made post-service.,There is no diagnosed bilateral eye condition due to service or service-connected disease or injury.,The Veteran's kidney condition is not service-connected as it did not have onset during service and there is no evidence showing its relation to a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not service-connected as it did not have onset during service, is not secondary to a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of in-service exposure that could cause the condition.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is not service-connected as it did not have onset during service, is not secondary to a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of in-service exposure that could cause the condition.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity is not service-connected as it did not have onset during service, is not secondary to a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of in-service exposure that could cause the condition.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is not service-connected as it did not have onset during service, is not secondary to a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of in-service exposure that could cause the condition.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity is not service-connected as it did not have onset during service, is not secondary to a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of in-service exposure that could cause the condition.,There is no diagnosed skeletal arthritis or gout due to service or service-connected disease or injury.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right ankle disability, bilateral knee conditions, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate rationale in the previous VA opinions, lack of consideration of all relevant evidence, and need for a new examination.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the reduction of his bilateral hearing loss disability rating from 30 percent to 10 percent. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to provide an adequate VA examination, and additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, PTSD, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and erectile dysfunction, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the severity of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 10 percent for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and thoracolumbar degenerative joint disease (DJD). The Veteran did not have current diagnoses of these conditions, and his claim was based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's initial claim for a rating of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss is granted, effective from September 2018. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, and left ear hearing loss, prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation. As his combined rating is at least 70 percent due to these conditions, he has been granted total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss need further development due to incomplete or inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because no informal or formal claim was filed prior to January 23, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The appeal is not about a service connection issue, but rather the continuation of an existing claim after the Veteran's death.