Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues of service connection for back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and both feet disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the nature of the Veteran's service.

The Board found that the reduction from a 30 percent rating to a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss was proper, as evidenced by improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran's appeal of the service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed as he and his representative requested to withdraw the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence, which includes a lay statement from the Veteran detailing his in-service experience. The Board finds that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence as to whether the Veteran has hearing loss as a result of acoustic trauma during active-duty service.

The Board has found duty to assist errors and remanded the cases for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back condition and remanded the hearing loss claim due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to noise exposure during active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

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

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's right ear hearing loss. The Veteran is seeking service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss, both of which have been granted. Service connection for right ear hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to service and remands for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions had onset during active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding in-service stressors.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted due to continuity of symptoms since active service and the presumption of soundness at entry.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable (0 percent) since January 29, 2021. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not have these conditions during or within one year after service discharge, and there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or other causation.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss for VA purposes.,Left ear hearing loss is granted as the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether it had its onset during service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a disability meeting VA standards.,For shin splints of the right and left lower extremities, the Board finds that the current rating of 10% under Diagnostic Code 5262 is appropriate given the Veteran's symptoms are unresponsive to conservative treatment but do not warrant an increase in evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of July 12, 2013 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted. The TDIU was granted due to his service-connected migraine headache and left ear hearing loss disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim.,The Veteran's prior to October 21, 2019, bilateral hearing loss was denied as not compensable.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss since October 21, 2019, is remanded and will be evaluated again.