Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete information regarding the use of a specific test in assessing the Veteran's hearing loss. Clarification is needed from two private medical providers.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and readjudicating the claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, while claims for bilateral hearing loss, skeletal arthritis, a skin condition, and the thoracolumbar spine condition are denied. The Veteran's left ankle, left knee, and right knee conditions have been rated as requested.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, along with other disabilities, has resulted in a TDIU from February 23, 2016, to March 25, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to current conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted based on the Veteran's credible report of in-service noise exposure and her subsequent diagnosis.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's PTSD with polysubstance abuse requires additional development due to changes in symptoms and medication, necessitating a remanded evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not meet the specific Puretone thresholds and/or speech discrimination percentages required for such a rating during any portion of the period on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, loss of sense of smell, and skin lipomas have been denied as there is no current disability meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss effective July 24, 2020. Prior to this date, no higher rating was warranted.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, but he contends for a higher rating. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating under either old or new criteria.,Service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are denied as there is no in-service event, injury, or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated medical records, VA examinations, and opinions regarding his service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased ratings issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous instructions and needs additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities, along with tinnitus and left hearing loss, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from September 30, 2013 to September 30, 2014.

The Veteran's TDIU on an extraschedular basis is granted for the period from February 27, 2017, to September 22, 2019. The evidence shows that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, right knee disability, and right shoulder disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any other compensable cause.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied due to lack of evidence. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and paranoid schizophrenia, was granted as new and material evidence has been received.

The Veteran's back disability was granted a rating of 40 percent from August 31, 2006 to May 16, 2016. From May 16, 2016 to May 2, 2018, he received a 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied higher than 40 percent thereafter. His acquired psychiatric disorder was rated in excess of 30 percent from August 31, 2006 to May 16, 2016 and in excess of 50 percent after that date. The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to May 16, 2016 was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his active service or any incident therein, including noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the causation and aggravation of tension headaches by service-connected bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and/or Meniere's syndrome. The Veteran is also asked to provide information about any treatment for a presumed in-service broken nose.