Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has decided that service connection for tinnitus is denied and the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to an inadequate medical opinion based on another Veteran's records.

The Veteran's noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in the May 2021 VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence supporting these claims.

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.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or a nexus to service, and the conditions did not manifest within one year of discharge.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection as they are related to his military service, with the Board finding that he experienced continuous symptoms since separation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings on multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, cervical degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and traumatic brain injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus between these conditions and his service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. Other disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection claims related to his bilateral hearing loss, right ear pain, and left ear growth as these issues are now part of a modernized review system.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service and does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration of his service-connected disabilities, including their impact on employment.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inconsistencies in the medical opinion provided. The examiner needs to address whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his acoustic trauma during military service, considering the missing reading at 3000 Hz at separation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. The issue of service connection for hepatitis, auto immune is remanded.

The Veteran's skin disorder, cellulitis, is denied as there is no current diagnosis and the VA examiner found no ongoing condition.,The Veteran's hearing loss of the right ear is denied due to lack of a current disability meeting VA criteria for disability.,The Veteran's hearing loss of the left ear is denied due to lack of a current disability meeting VA criteria for disability.,The Veteran's chest muscle disorder, including residuals of costochondritis, is denied as there is no current diagnosis and the VA examiner found no ongoing condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 0 percent prior to May 9, 2017 and 10 percent from that date. The Veteran's lumbar strain disability is rated at 10 percent prior to May 15, 2017 and 20 percent from that date.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on his bilateral hearing loss and lumbar strain disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as related to service. The bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and hearing loss disability are denied.,The Board finds that remands are warranted for the claims of vertigo, Meniere's disease, respiratory disabilities, and TDIU due to inextricability.

The Board granted service connection for residuals of a left groin injury and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 50 percent, effective May 25, 2018. The Board denied a higher rating as the evidence did not show that his hearing loss was more severe than what was reflected by his previously assigned evaluations.,The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent, effective May 25, 2018. The Board denied a higher rating as the evidence did not show that his disability manifested to warrant a higher rating prior to the VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. However, the claims for both bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as they are not related to service.