Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not caused by his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, back disability, and hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hemorrhoids are service-connected, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

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

The Board has remanded the cases of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis. The Veteran's SSA records have not been requested, and his tax returns are needed to determine if he is substantially employed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from December 5, 2016 to April 30, 2017. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left eye disability, and right eye disability as the evidence does not establish a nexus to active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and its relation to service, specifically noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion to address whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability was restored to a 10 percent rating after it had been reduced improperly. The current evidence does not support an increased rating.

The Board has remanded four issues: service connection for emphysema with pneumothorax, service connection for migraine headaches, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and a compensable rating for TBI. The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his conditions and military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a sleep disorder and bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran's reports of in-service noise exposure will be considered, but the current evidence does not support a direct link between his conditions and active service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is considered a current disability that is etiologically related to his active service, and thus he has been granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability as defined by VA, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of more than Level II hearing loss in either ear, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to mental health condition, left foot condition, right foot condition, and bilateral hearing loss. The claims are being remanded for additional medical examinations and records.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development due to lack of audiometric data from VA examinations, failure to appear, and need for authorization and request of records.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as left ear hearing loss. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service continuity or recurrent symptoms that would warrant granting these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and insufficient evidence to establish a link between his in-service noise exposure and his current condition.