Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection for liver cancer and a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the failure to obtain VA treatment records from approximately 1970.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability is granted, and he is assigned a 60 percent rating as of February 29, 2016. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating.,For TDIU, the Veteran has a combined evaluation of 40 percent with two service-connected conditions. The Board found that his disabilities did not render him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asbestos exposure, hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of sufficient information in the record to make informed decisions on these issues.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left hand peripheral neuropathy, and right hand peripheral neuropathy. The claims are remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining private medical records and an examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable initial rating for his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to incomplete medical records. The issue of service connection for cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities has been resolved as he was granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for right ear hearing loss, including a need for a VA opinion regarding whether pre-existing hearing loss increased in severity during service and if so, whether it was clearly and unmistakably due to natural progression.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or within one year after his military service, and there is no evidence linking the condition to any in-service noise exposure. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss was less likely caused by military service.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as incurred in service due to noise exposure. However, there is insufficient evidence of tinnitus during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy and diabetes mellitus, type 2, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to July 19, 2017. The Board granted TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board finds insufficient evidence to assess the current severity of his service-connected hearing loss and thus remands for a new examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for a back disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations related to various conditions, including PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, GERD, asthma, lumbar degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy, and eye disorders. The appeal is being returned to the RO to attempt to obtain records from the Puerto Rico Army National Guard.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss due to incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with the availability of his most recent audiometric data.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his hearing loss was dismissed because the Veteran and his representative withdrew their appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a current disability for VA purposes.,The Veteran's assertions regarding the onset of her tinnitus were deemed inconsistent with other evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, migraines, and PTSD, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from June 30, 2014 to February 28, 2018.

The Board has remanded several claims due to the need for updated VA examinations. The Veteran was last examined in December 2015, and there is evidence of worsening since then.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate compliance with prior remand instructions. The Veteran's lay statements regarding symptoms during service are not addressed in the VA opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, right knee disability, gout, acid reflux, sleep apnea, and bilateral hearing loss due to outstanding records and need for further examinations.