Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is etiologically linked to his active-duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and has not had one at any time during the pendency of the claim or recent to the filing of the claim.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating. The Board has denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing an increase in severity since the last VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and military service.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and his TDIU prior to December 1, 2015 are both denied. The Board found the evidence insufficient to warrant a higher initial rating or a TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to address these issues.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, but his bilateral hearing loss and hypertension are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected COPD with asbestos plaques and bilateral hearing loss prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and cervical spine disability due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.,Service connection was not granted as there is no credible evidence linking the current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is remanded for a new examination and opinion.,The Veteran's right elbow/forearm disability is remanded for an additional examination to determine the cause of his symptoms during the period on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for increased rating for depressive disorder is remanded due to the addition of relevant VA treatment records.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and coronary artery disease as there is no evidence that the Veteran filed a formal or informal application for these conditions prior to September 15, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claim for an initial compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss due to incomplete records and further development is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ear hearing loss, finding that it is related to his active military service.

The appeal for service connection for a recurrent sleep disability is dismissed. The Board has established service connection for an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, to include sleep impairment, and assigned a 30 percent rating for that disability, effective August 30, 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus disability and has assigned a 70 percent rating for PTSD, effective from March 22, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss on a presumptive basis. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus, left foot callouses, and right foot callouses have been granted service connection. The low back disability has also been reopened for further review.,Service connection is established for arthritis of the ankles, but not for the left wrist or knee.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to be in need of the regular aid and attendance of another individual, thus SMC based on aid and attendance is denied.