Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that his current condition is less likely than not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of noise exposure during service and there are no significant changes in hearing thresholds noted upon separation from service.

The Board has denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a right shoulder condition, but granted service connection for a low back condition. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss on an extraschedular basis, finding that the schedular criteria adequately describe the severity and symptoms of the Veteran's disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of contemporaneous treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for left ear hearing loss is dismissed. The claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to new evidence submitted since the last denial.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and medical opinions regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left ankle/foot condition, and right ankle/foot condition.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the existence and etiology of several service-connected conditions, including hypertension, left knee disorder, aching joints, tinnitus, skeletal arthritis of the entire joint system, left elbow disorder, bilateral eye disorder (including sensitivity to light), right knee disorder, bilateral hip disorder, low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and bipolar disorder), right elbow disorder, and headache disorder. The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's petition to reconsider the claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, left knee disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability is granted. The cases are remanded for further examinations and determinations regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no nexus between his current hearing loss disability and his military service. The evidence did not support a finding of nexus due to conflicting opinions from VA examiners and a private physician.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not show it was incurred during a period of active duty or training.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as the Veteran and his representative have withdrawn their appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to September 6, 2022, and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to an administrative error in submitting a modernized review system form instead of a legacy one. The Veteran must file a timely VA Form 9 if he wishes to continue his appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of various conditions secondary to his service-connected sarcoidosis have been remanded by the Board. The issues include headache, joint and muscle pain, heart condition (claimed as an irregular heartbeat), hearing loss, and a psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and the Board grants entitlement to TDIU prior to April 27, 2016.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as noncompensably disabling under Diagnostic Code 6100, resulting in a denial of a compensable rating for the entire appeal period.