Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence. The claim for tinnitus is granted as it began during service and continues today, with no intercurrent cause. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is also granted as there is a current disability (bilateral hearing loss) that is related to in-service noise exposure, even though the Veteran's post-service occupation was more significant in terms of noise exposure.

The Board has dismissed all the issues of service connection for various conditions as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and his military service. The claim will be reconsidered with a new opinion from an audiologist.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 100% disability rating effective January 9, 2020. His bilateral hearing loss remains at a non-compensable level.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but denied right ear hearing loss. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible statements and evidence of acoustic trauma in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a cardiovascular disorder were denied. The claim for an increased rating for left knee disability was remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his current conditions and active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has worsened since his last VA examination in August 2014. The Board finds that a new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and cervical spine disorder are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and sleep apnea, but has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability (patellar tendonitis).,An initial rating in excess of 20 percent for cervical strain with cervical spine degenerative disc disease is also being remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals for various conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability due to the lack of audiometric criteria meeting VA standards.,Service connection is remanded for an acquired psychiatric disability and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus claims are being remanded for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and a VA examination to determine the etiology of his conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a TBI, headaches as secondary to residuals of a TBI, and sleep disability as secondary to tinnitus due to lack of medical evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure and etiology. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, skin cancer, and potential nerve/neurological disability are all being reviewed again.