Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and prostate cancer claims require additional development due to inadequate or incomplete examinations. The claims are being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his lower back condition, bilateral foot condition, left leg injury, and right leg injury claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence linking it to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's preexisting hearing loss worsened during service and is therefore considered aggravated.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, increased evaluations for lumbosacral strain and cervical spine disabilities due to insufficient development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, right knee condition, and left knee condition due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an inner ear disability, including as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability, and for TDIU due to unclear diagnoses and inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran meets the requirements for special monthly compensation based on housebound status from December 6, 2017 due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss did not begin during or is related to his military service.,The Board also denied service connection for tinnitus, concluding that it did not begin during or is related to his military service.

The Board granted service connection for a neck disorder and sinusitis to include rhinosinusitis, finding that the Veteran's conditions were presumptively related to his service in Iraq due to exposure to burn pits. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is found to have started during his military service and has continued since then. The Board granted service connection for this condition based on direct evidence of a nexus between the in-service noise exposure and the current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate VA examination and provide the Veteran with a proper opinion regarding his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's spouse, L.H., is the caregiver and has been providing personal care services for him. The Board found that participation in the PCAFC would significantly enhance his ability to live safely at home. However, the claim was remanded due to incomplete caregiver training and assessment.

The Veteran's spouse is not eligible for PCAFC benefits due to lack of personal care services and caregiver training. The Board has decided the case should be remanded to complete necessary assessments and training.

The Board has granted a higher initial disability rating of 10 percent for the service-connected bilateral hearing loss, effective from June 14, 2019. The decision is based on the Veteran's testimony and audiometric measures that indicate he experiences difficulty understanding conversation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for pilonidal cyst residual scar, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for further development.,Service connection for hypertension was granted with a noncompensable rating effective March 29, 2011.

The Board has denied readjudication of the Veteran's previously disallowed claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, cervical spine strain, headaches, and hemorrhoids have been granted service connection. The psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with depression) has not been granted service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to a failure to make reasonable efforts to obtain VA treatment records or relevant federal or private treatment records, and provided an inadequate VA examination or opinion.