Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran was in regular need of aid and attendance as a result of his service-connected disabilities, particularly given the presence of nonservice-connected disorders. The VA must obtain private medical records and provide an opinion on this matter.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus have been remanded due to the submission of new evidence in his August 2020 Supplemental Claim. The Board finds that this new evidence is relevant and sufficient to warrant readjudication.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected. The TDIU claim is denied due to lack of factual ascertainability of unemployability in the year prior to the initial TDIU claim.

The Board has dismissed the issues of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss, restrictive lung disease, and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss as moot. The issue of service connection for OSA as secondary to service-connected PTSD is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, but has granted service connection for tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board dismissed the appellant's appeals regarding entitlement to higher evaluations for PTSD and peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, as well as earlier effective dates for service connection. The Veteran's disabilities were found not to warrant such adjustments.,The Board also denied the appellant's claims for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance prior to February 28, 2014, and an increased level of SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected. The TDIU claim is denied due to lack of factual ascertainability.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for tinnitus and traumatic brain injury (TBI) were remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and cancer cells in cervix as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of these conditions.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The issues of service connection for a neurologic disability associated with his back disability, as well as effective dates for various grants of benefits, have also been remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for various disabilities, including lumbar spine strain with degenerative joint disease, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and knee, foot, and hand disabilities, require additional evidence due to outstanding VA medical records. The appeal is remanded to obtain these records.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for a cervical spine disability, sleep disturbance, and a dental condition. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hip disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been remanded.

Your appeals for service connection regarding bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left ear skin cancer have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn their appeal.

The Board has determined that a higher (compensable) initial disability rating for the service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is not warranted from June 20, 2013.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, and thus denied service connection for this condition. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for a bilateral eye disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claim for an updated VA examination to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is related to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and hypothyroidism. The examiner must consider various medical articles discussing associations between OSA and psychiatric conditions.