Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's geographic tongue and bilateral hearing loss claims are remanded for further examination. The left shoulder disability and scars rating appeal is also REMANDED.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for right eye scarring and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by his authorized representative.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disability. The claims were reopened due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,A 10 percent rating for functional diarrhea is granted, but a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development and lack of a proper opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's in-service external otitis or earaches and his current bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's right heel spur syndrome with inferior calcaneal bursitis and plantar fasciitis is found to have originated during active service. The Veteran's left sensorineural hearing loss disability is also found to have originated during active service.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran had in-service noise exposure, continuous symptoms since service separation, and presumed service connection based on chronic disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable from June 5, 2017, to February 21, 2018. The Board granted TDIU during this period.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of medical nexus connecting the Veteran's current hearing loss to an in-service event. Additional development is needed, including obtaining an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding whether the Veteran's hearing loss is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of his service-connected left thumb disability was dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no nexus between his current hearing loss and service. The evidence did not show a significant threshold shift in hearing during service or within one year of discharge.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the Veteran died during the pendency of the hearing loss reduction claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence indicating current disabilities of hearing loss and scarring of the right upper arm that may be associated with events during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, and the case is remanded for a new examination regarding his service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The examiner will assess whether his current hearing loss is related to service, including noise exposure, and whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not caused by or a result of noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a nexus between his in-service consumption of starchy food and his current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type II, nor could it be presumed as chronic or continuous due to lack of in-service manifestations. The remaining issues were remanded for further development.

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