Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if he currently has these conditions and whether they are related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to unclear results from a private audiogram, specifically regarding whether the Maryland CNC test was used. The Veteran's hearing loss rating will be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for obesity, left shoulder disability, lumbar disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The cervical neck disorder and TBI residuals are also addressed as new issues to be resolved.

The Veteran's bilateral hip strain is granted service connection, while his sleep disorder, exposure to hazards claimed as undiagnosed illness, dysentery, gout, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, left knee tendonitis, PTSD, and TDIU claims are denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left leg tendonitis, hypertension, headaches, a neck disorder (secondary to right knee disability), a left hip disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to new evidence received since previous decisions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and diabetes mellitus type II, to include as due to herbicide exposure, need further development. The case is being remanded to provide a new VA examination for the left ear hearing loss claim and to verify the Veteran's herbicide exposure during his service in Okinawa.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his thyroid condition, bilateral eye condition, and bilateral hearing loss. The claims will be reviewed again with additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is also granted for tinnitus, ear condition (claimed as acoustic neuroma), and left ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, patella chondromalacia of the right and left knees, and erectile dysfunction. The decision on these issues is pending further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, neck condition, right shoulder condition, and back condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of decision. The Board also granted TDIU based on service-connected disabilities prior to June 7, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and TDIU due to insufficient evidence of record, including an updated VA examination and VA treatment records. The Veteran will be provided with forms to complete and given another opportunity to submit them.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Board also notes that entitlement to increased ratings for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) prior to January 30, 2020 and thereafter are not granted.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (DM II), whether the reduction in rating was proper, and entitlement to an increased rating for residuals, right ankle subtalar dislocation with arthritis 1st metatarsophalangeal joint.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, right and left knee disorders, bilateral hearing loss, and a psychiatric disorder. The case is being returned to VA for further development.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of current hearing loss.,The Veteran's appendectomy scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under VA regulations.,The Veteran's TBI, PTSD, and related conditions are remanded due to missing service treatment records.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and thoracic/lumbar spine arthritis, cervical spine disability, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and psychiatric disorder are all remanded for further development.,The Veteran's right foot disability, left foot disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability are also remanded due to missing service treatment records.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his service and granted service connection. However, the hearing loss in his right ear requires further examination and opinion due to insufficient evidence.

Service connection for hemorrhoids has been granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability has been granted.,Service connection for stomach pain (deviated septum) is denied.,Service connection for watery left eye is remanded.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has found that there is evidence of a potential worsening in the Veteran's hypertension and bilateral hearing loss, and therefore remanded for additional examinations and development.