Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives regarding the etiology of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's lay statements, service noise exposure, and audiometric findings are considered in the new examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that this rating accurately reflects his condition.

The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal. The claims for increased ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skin condition, and hyperthyroidism are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for depression, OSA, and right shoulder disability were denied as there was no evidence of a disease or injury during service. The claim for left ear hearing loss disability is granted.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss disability is established based on pre-existing condition aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and has remanded the issue of whether the Veteran had a diagnosis of scarlet fever at any time during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder and other conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of a TDIU.

The Veteran's heartburn and GERD are not service-connected as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,Bilateral hearing loss was also denied as the Veteran does not have a diagnosed bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete service records and inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is required to provide updated medical records, lay statements, and VA audiological examinations.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection on four of his claims: erectile dysfunction, pancreas disability, aphonia or slurred speech, and a psychiatric disability. The remaining three claims (bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea) have been granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, Vertigo, and left foot metatarsalgia. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete audiometric results from a VA audiological evaluation in July 2021. The Veteran's hearing loss condition is being reviewed for appropriate disability ratings.

The Veteran's claim for higher disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating prior to June 4, 2022 and a 40 percent rating thereafter.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and shortness of breath have been reopened, but the claim of service connection for tinnitus has been denied. The initial compensable rating claim for bilateral hearing loss is also denied.

The Board has denied an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and remanded the remaining issues of service connection. The appeal is currently on hold due to incomplete service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of an adequate examination, as new evidence was associated with the file since the last VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been manifested by no worse than a Level I hearing impairment in each ear, and the Board denied an initial compensable rating for his disability.

The Veteran's hearing loss, left ear, is currently rated at 0 percent and the Board has denied an increased rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, gastrointestinal condition (claimed as GERD), and migraine headaches. Service connection is now established for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) as there is no current disability of these conditions during the appeal period, and the evidence does not support a finding that they are related to military service.