Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss disability due to a lack of recent VA audiology examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss, finding that the audiometric findings did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and right ear hearing loss, finding no current disability or evidence of in-service injury that would support these claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for right leg burn scar. Service connection is granted for respiratory disorder, sinusitis, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, LLE peripheral neuropathy, multiple joint disability (arthritis), fatigue, and GERD based on presumptive exposure to fine particulate matter in the Persian Gulf.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, and thoracic spine disability due to failure to report for a VA examination. The claims are not decided in this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that his disability warranted a rating greater than the current assigned ratings during the periods on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The issues of entitlement to increased evaluations, service connection, and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss, bilateral foot disorder (to include pes planus), right ear hearing loss, back disorder (to include IVDS), heart disorder, and hypertension are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.,Specifically, additional examination is needed to address whether the Veteran's current foot disorders were aggravated by service or related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to issues with the hearing loss and peripheral vestibular disorder claims, including a need for new examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, OCD with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), a right knee disability, tinnitus, and neurological conditions affecting the legs and feet are all granted. The claim for service connection of low back disability is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to incomplete information about his employment and education history. The Board requests additional records from the VistA Imaging system, asks for a completed VA Form 21-8940, and will readjudicate the case.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus are found to have begun during active service.,Service connection is granted for left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and tinnitus, as well as reopened previously denied claims. Service connection is established on a presumptive basis due to the Veteran's reported symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evaluations and considerations of separate ratings for ear conditions, including perforated ear drum, ear scaring, running ear, and chronic otitis media. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is also being reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain an addendum VA opinion regarding the appellant's bilateral hearing loss. The left knee disability claim is also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the case for further development regarding bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no current diagnosis of these conditions.,The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's preexisting conditions were aggravated by his in-service noise exposure. The decision also acknowledges the Veteran's credible testimony of in-service acoustic trauma.