Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, a left eye disability, and a left foot disability due to additional VA clinical documentation being received.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection and a compensable rating for the listed conditions, effectively dismissing them.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and unspecified depressive disorder and anxiety disorder are currently rated, but the case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left foot condition, and right foot condition due to potential service connection based on in-service noise exposure. Additional evidence is needed from both VA and private sources.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the claim for an initial compensable rating is denied.,The Veteran's staphylococcus infection is not service-connected under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to lack of evidence showing VA fault or reasonable foreseeability of complications from TURP surgery.,Service connection for a right eye disability and a headache disability are remanded as new issues were raised in the appeal.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for various conditions, but has remanded them for further development and examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and review of new evidence.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of any impairment warranting a compensable disability rating throughout the appeal period.

The Board has dismissed all appeals for service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure. The right hip disability is remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a scheduling issue for a VA audiological examination, and will readjudicate the appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and remanded the hearing loss claim due to insufficient evidence regarding noise exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obesity, bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, intertrigo, and migraine headaches due to new evidence received since the final July 1971 rating decision. The RO is instructed to obtain medical opinions on the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable, with a speech recognition score of 76% in the right ear and 78% in the left ear. The Board found that this did not warrant a compensable rating.,Left hip degenerative arthritis with residuals of left femur fracture was rated at 10 percent. The Veteran's range of motion allowed for abduction to at least 30 degrees, adduction to at least 20 degrees, external rotation to at least 40 degrees, internal rotation to 25 degrees, and crossing his legs. The Board found that this did not warrant a higher rating.,Left hip limitation of flexion was rated as noncompensable. The Veteran's range of motion allowed for greater than 45 degrees of flexion. The Board found that this did not warrant a compensable rating.,Hemorrhoids were rated as noncompensable, with mild or moderate severity and no large or thrombotic features.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection and rating for various conditions, including PTSD, peripheral neuropathy, lung disability, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the decision being finalized.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are not of sufficient severity to produce unemployability, and the Board denied his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for dyspnea was denied as it is not related to his service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran withdrew his appeal for left ankle strain and shoulder strain.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for tinnitus and service connection for bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his tinnitus, as it is already at its maximum schedular rating. For his bilateral hearing loss claim, the Board determined there was no evidence to support a finding of service connection due to lack of current diagnosis and valid audiometric test results.