Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

Service connection for PTSD and left ear hearing loss has been granted.,The remaining issues of service connection have been remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current hearing impairment and his military service or service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional evidence and providing a VA examination to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for dental condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his skin disability, service connection for hearing loss, and service connection for a bilateral foot rash have been dismissed as he has withdrawn them.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss prior to December 13, 2019 and thereafter in excess of 10 percent was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating at any point.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to in-service noise exposure.,A 60 percent rating for left hand injury residuals, index, middle, ring and little fingers from October 6, 2014 to June 8, 2021 is granted. A higher rating since June 9, 2021 is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right sesamoid bone fracture residuals, and right inguinal hernia are remanded due to insufficient evidence of current disabilities or a causal relationship between service and these conditions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant medical records and schedule the Veteran for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for service connection on all listed conditions before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has granted a temporary total rating for MDD, but dismissed the appeal. The Veteran's right ankle and tinnitus claims are remanded due to missing SSA records.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals for diabetes mellitus and heart condition. The remaining issues of hearing loss, left foot numbness, right foot numbness, and hypertension have been remanded due to new evidence and need further examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for consideration of new VA evidence and readjudication.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence, particularly regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and its relation to his service-connected TBI.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted an 80% rating from January 18, 1988 to January 24, 2005. Additionally, the Veteran was granted a TDIU prior to January 24, 2005.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, neck cancer, and throat cancer due to potential in-service exposure and other factors. The claims will be reconsidered after additional evidence is obtained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss did not begin during service and is not related to any in-service injury or event, as his pre-existing conductive hearing loss was clearly and unmistakably not aggravated by service. The sensorineural component of his hearing loss developed after separation from service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of the Veteran's hearing loss to service. The Veteran testified that his hearing loss started during basic training from a bee sting, but there is no direct evidence linking it to in-service noise exposure or any other service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic left ear infections with scar tissue and left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions developed during service and are related to his military noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus, claimed as residuals of a concussion, is granted. The right knee disability and bilateral hearing loss are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was granted a 40 percent rating from July 1, 2015 to July 23, 2017.