Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for left knee, upper back, and low back disabilities. The Veteran's hearing loss does not meet the criteria of a hearing impairment for VA purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the decision on bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate examination and consideration of treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded both claims for additional development, including obtaining VA examination results and an etiological opinion regarding the Veteran's cardiac disability. The hearing loss claim is related to a compensable rating, while the cardiac disability claim involves service connection based on secondary exposure to chemicals during service.

The Veteran's claims for TDIU prior to December 31, 2017 and initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss were denied. The claim for service connection for euthyroid multinodular goiter with enlarged gland was also denied due to lack of evidence connecting the condition to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus due to noise exposure in service. Service connection for hearing loss is remanded as the VA examination obtained in June 2018 was inadequate and there are no post-service records addressing the Veteran's claimed hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on all issues except facial scars have been dismissed due to withdrawal. The appeal for reopening/reconsideration of facial scars is pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic right shoulder disability, claimed as right shoulder pain; dry eye syndrome; cataracts; and dental disability (teeth grinding) have been denied. The claim for service connection for lumbosacral spine disability has been reopened but not granted. The claim for service connection for hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence indicating potential diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for left eye photophobia, but granted service connection for tinnitus. The case of bilateral hearing loss is being remanded.,Service connection was not established for the Veteran's left eye photophobia as there was no clear and unmistakable evidence that it preexisted service and the examiner found no aggravation during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus as there is no evidence of chronic symptoms during or within one year after service, and the current conditions are not otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and PTSD disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, resulting in a TDIU rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have been incurred in service, while his claims of obstructive sleep apnea and PTSD are not supported by the evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, left and right knee disabilities, low back disability, and right and left wrist disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected. However, his lumbar spine disability remains at a 20 percent rating and does not warrant an increase.

The Board has remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss disability due to a lack of service treatment records and an inadequate VA examination regarding etiology.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea, but the issues of headaches, hypertension, sinus disability (allergic rhinitis), and asthma are being remanded due to inextricably intertwined nature with the primary issue.

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

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disability but denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is remanded for further evaluation of the compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and more than a 10 percent rating for service-connected tinnitus.