Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded.,An earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral knee degenerative arthritis and limitation of extension of the left and right knee is not warranted.,An earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss that meets VA criteria. The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted as the evidence supports a finding of in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability is manifested by hearing acuity no worse than Level III in each ear, resulting in a 0 percent rating. For the remaining issues on appeal, including left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, liver disability, thyroid disability, low back disability, and face spasms, the Board found that pre-decisional duty to assist errors were made and remanded for further action.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 10, 2001 for the award of a TDIU and established basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

The Board has determined that the reduction in disability rating from 40% to 30% for bilateral hearing loss is proper and an increased rating for hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's tic condition is granted a maximum 30 percent rating effective June 24, 2019. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of June 1, 2015 for the grant of a TDIU and basic eligibility to DEA benefits. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of that date.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational experience during the period on appeal prior to May 13, 2016.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss from August 24, 2016, as the Veteran's hearing acuity did not meet criteria for a compensable (higher) rating.

The Board has granted reopening of service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD, a higher initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, and TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his right ear hearing loss, which he claims was caused by in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the lack of valid audiometric testing for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's subjective reports and intermittent nature of his hearing loss need to be considered in a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's in-service diagnoses and exposure, as well as a lack of discussion regarding his July 1968 service treatment records indicating potential noise exposure. The claim will be reconsidered with new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left shoulder strain, right knee arthritis, and hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since September 11, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of his bilateral eye disability claim. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen these claims due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a sleep disorder, and various other conditions. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development of records and for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is related to his active service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the issue of service connection for a prostate disorder, including as secondary to herbicide exposure. The Veteran is required to undergo another VA examination to determine if his prostate disorder had its onset in service or is otherwise related to any incident of his active duty service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, cervical strain, thoracic and lumbar strain with IVDS, sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and bipolar disorder with anxiety disorder have all been denied. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection for tendonitis, bilateral pes planus, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.