Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The appeal is granted in part, with both issues being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, but his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and a mood disorder, NOS, is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, headaches, sleep apnea, and TBI as there is no current disability or evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The claim for lumbar spine disability is also remanded.,New evidence has been received, but it does not change the disposition of any issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability. The claim will be reconsidered with a new medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete VA examinations and requests for rescheduling. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, liver condition, lumbar strain, cholelithiasis (gallbladder condition), and chest pain.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective May 11, 2016, based on his service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The effective date is set at January 25, 2016, as this is the earliest date that an increase in disability can be factually ascertainable.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for a compensable rating prior to March 12, 2020, and a rating in excess of 50 percent on and after March 12, 2020, for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The appeal for service connection for hearing loss has been dismissed as the appellant, the Veteran's surviving spouse, requested to withdraw her appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left-sided paralysis, heart disorder, back disorder, and neck disorder. The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and denied a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable, and the claim for an initial compensable rating is denied.,For accrued benefits purposes, a higher than 20 percent rating for residuals of Muscle Group II injury involving the right chest wall is not granted. The current rating remains at 20 percent.,The Veteran's PTSD was rated as 50 percent since May 9, 2012, and a higher than 50 percent rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for cold weather injury residuals of the hands is denied. The remaining issues have been remanded due to a lack of VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, specifically his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to his military noise exposure during combat.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for hearing loss is denied, and a TDIU prior to June 24, 2021, is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo, bilateral hearing loss, and essential hypertension is denied. The Veteran's tinnitus claim results in a denial of a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.,Service connection cannot be established as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of vertigo, bilateral hearing loss, or essential hypertension during the appeal period. The Veteran's tinnitus claim is also denied as his disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of a VA audiometric test from June 7, 2004.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to September 28, 2021 resulted in a disability rating of 50 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.