Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hearing loss and his service. The VA contracted examiner's opinion is deemed inadequate, as it did not consider the Veteran's reports of declining hearing acuity since service and treatment from 1976 onwards.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance with respect to these conditions. The Veteran's current symptoms are believed to be related to his military noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's appeal of the compensation rating for his bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence received. However, both conditions are denied as there is no credible link between current symptoms and military service.

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 Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disability, arthritis, bilateral eye condition, headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder, and tremors are denied. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, vertigo, headaches, and erectile dysfunction (due to herbicide agent exposure) based on the Veteran's credible statements regarding his in-service noise exposure and symptoms.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 60 percent, the highest schedular rating available.,The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent and cannot be rated higher.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, type II diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, and esophageal cancer are all granted. However, the claim for type II diabetes mellitus is remanded due to a pre-decisional error in duty to assist.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on the audiometric test results provided.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus disability, finding that there is at least a balance of evidence in favor of this claim.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities have been reopened. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

Service connection is granted for a brain condition (other than already service-connected epilepsy) and reopening of service connection for a low back disability. Other claims are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss as there is no current evidence showing a disability.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted, effective from the date of the decision.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for chronic allergic rhinitis is granted, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the lack of evidence showing a current disability. The Veteran's low back, upper extremity neuropathy, ankle, knee, and lower leg disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension as there is no evidence of a current disability, in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology since service. The Veteran's claims are based on direct service connection.

The appeal of hearing loss and tinnitus service connection claims are dismissed. The heart disorder, left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity issues have been remanded for further evaluation.