Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is seeking service connection for this condition, which was denied in a previous decision and remanded multiple times.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied in April 1994, but he filed an informal claim on November 13, 2012. The Board found that no earlier effective date is warranted.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for cervical spine disability was granted with an effective date of November 13, 2012. However, the Board found that no earlier effective date is warranted due to lack of evidence showing worsening prior to this date.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete audiometric records and a need for an addendum opinion. The Veteran's hearing loss is currently established, but there are questions about its onset during service.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his neck and back disabilities is denied. The Veteran was not granted a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, and the VA adjudicators determined that he did not meet the criteria for increased ratings for his neck and back disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his military service or noise exposure therein. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a compensable degree of hearing loss within one year after discharge from active duty.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss is granted from January 24, 2018, to June 15, 2022. A rating of more than 10 percent since June 16, 2022, is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted a rating of 30 percent, effective January 25, 2022. Prior to this date, the Veteran had a 10 percent evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity neuropathic pain syndrome is granted as service connected due to herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for IBS prior to June 19, 2018, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter has been dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for left hip arthritis, groin disorder manifested by pain, and tinnitus. The Veteran is awaiting additional VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his reduced sense of smell, obstructive sleep apnea, and hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus must be remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss as there is no current disability of this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss and service connection for balance disorder due to procedural issues with the NOD regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability for VA purposes.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for neck, left shoulder, right shoulder, left wrist, and right wrist disorders are remanded due to the need for additional development of his treatment records from Community Care providers.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot and right foot disorders are remanded due to the need for an adequate opinion addressing whether these disabilities are related to service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, including sleep apnea, is remanded due to the need for an adequate opinion addressing whether this disability is related to service or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and head injury (claimed as CTE) are remanded due to the need for an adequate opinion addressing whether these disabilities are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are due to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence from previous examinations, requiring further VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it began in service and continues to this day.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as panic attacks, is granted service connection. The appeals for respiratory infections, hearing loss, tinnitus, digestive disease, Barrett's esophagus, asthma, and sleep issues are dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination considering his testimony and wife's report.