Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful occupation throughout the period on appeal. The Board denied entitlement to a compensation based on total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for additional development, including obtaining an addendum VA medical opinion to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for a right foot disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss did not worsen beyond its natural progression during service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to inconsistencies in the examination results and need for a new VA audiology evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include as secondary to service connected tinnitus), and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea are all remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are attributable to his active duty service.

The Veteran's vertigo is caused by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, nerve damage to the left shoulder, hypertension, erectile dysfunction (secondary to hypertension), and a bilateral eye disorder (secondary to hypertension) have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for more contemporaneous VA examination and treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a middle ear condition of the right ear, and tinnitus due to technical difficulties with previous hearings and issues obtaining necessary medical opinions/examinations.

The Board has decided that service connection for tinnitus is granted, but the issue of a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss requires further examination and review.

The Board dismissed the appeals for higher initial rating for right hand thumb strain, service connection for right and left leg shin splints, and service connection for a skin disorder. The appeals for reopening service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus were granted. Service connection was denied for headache disorder, lumbar spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, left ankle disorder, and sinusitis.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as presumptively due to herbicide exposure in service. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending and will be remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected due to noise exposure during active duty.,Service connection for a disability manifested by photosensitivity in the eyes, left eye disability, bilateral hearing loss, and left ear swelling are denied. The Veteran has not been diagnosed with these conditions at any time related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, venous stasis skin changes, left lower leg, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, schizoaffective disorder, depressive disorder, substance abuse) due to insufficient evidence or procedural errors. The Veteran's claims are not yet decided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service, with a presumption of aggravation due to noise exposure during active duty. The right ear hearing loss worsened during service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure. His bilateral hearing loss claim requires further examination due to inadequate rationale provided by the previous examiner.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for right hip osteoarthritis and granted it. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and cervical spine disability were denied. The case is remanded for further development regarding the right hip osteoarthritis secondary to knee disabilities.