Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and headaches. The issues of service connection for hearing loss and secondary service connection for headaches related to left eye disability are now before the Board.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher evaluation for his right ear hearing loss disability, an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD beginning August 13, 2015, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting any of these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to have started during his active service, while the evidence does not support a link between his current bilateral hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back disability, and a left arm disability, as well as an increased rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was received on February 20, 2015. The Board denied an earlier effective date because the claim was not filed until then.

The Veteran's asthma is granted service connection under the PACT Act, and his MDD and PTSD claims are remanded for further development. His right ear hearing loss and sleep apnea claims are also remanded.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is found to have started during service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The appeal for service connection for tinea pedis is dismissed. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a left leg disability is reopened and remanded. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left eye disability, and lumbar spine disability are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received after a September 2022 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board denied requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran did not file an informal claim raising these issues prior to June 24, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability during or proximate to the pendency of his claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the Board has remanded his service connection claim for a lower back condition due to conflicting medical evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as she does not have a current disability for VA purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that it is related to noise exposure during military service and assigning a 100% disability rating.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and his CAD rating from February 28, 2018 has been increased to 30 percent.,Service connection for COPD remains pending due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development, including obtaining clinical records from Toul and Verdun hospitals where the Veteran was hospitalized after falling off a bunk in service. A new VA medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran has residuals of a head injury or TBI related to his documented fall.

The Veteran's right-sided nephroureterectomy due to T1 high grade TCC of the kidney and T2 TCC of the distal ureter is granted as related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.

The Veteran's claim for increased PTSD rating is granted, and service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD are all granted. The Veteran's sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD, ataxia, peripheral neuropathy, and restless leg syndrome are also granted. Service connection for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination, and the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is now pending again with the AOJ.