Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for a left ear hearing loss disability was granted. The Board found new and material evidence, thus reopening the claim, but remanded it for further examination and opinion regarding service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is caused or aggravated by his service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable and in excess of 30 percent disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on the severity of his hearing impairment.

The Board has dismissed all appeals seeking to reopen service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, knee disabilities, and shoulder disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed as he withdrew his request to continue the appeal in January 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal of his claims for leukemia, left ear hearing loss, and a heart disorder has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, which is related to service. The claim will be reconsidered after obtaining a new medical opinion.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure has been withdrawn.,Service connection is granted for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure, as the evidence supports a finding of herbicide exposure and association with this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, a lumbar spine disability, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The Veteran's appeals are now pending with the VA for further review.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD or an acquired psychiatric disability due to a lack of VA examinations. The Veteran was unable to attend scheduled VA examinations due to incarceration.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a hearing disability during or within one year after service, and the most probative medical opinion concluded that the current hearing loss is not related to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for tinnitus or bilateral hearing loss, and denied service connection for COPD.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, gout, rectal problems (hemorrhoids), hypertension, and a heart disorder due to additional development and medical inquiry.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is entitled to a new VA audiological examination to determine if his current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus was present during service and has a continuity of symptomatology since service. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, back disability, neck disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, right elbow disability, right shin disability (shin splints), and left shin disability (shin splints) are remanded as the VA examination opinion is inadequate.,Service connection for DM is remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine its onset during service or if it is related to any in-service exposure. Service connection for an eye disability is also remanded due to potential relationship with DM.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is remanded as the Veteran's lay statements provide sufficient evidence of a nexus between his military police duties and his current mental health conditions.