Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence received since the final November 2015 rating decision does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss has been granted service connection, with a maximum schedular rating of 50 percent.,An increased rating for migraine headaches is granted, but the issue remains remanded due to inconsistencies in the VA examination findings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and vestibular neuronitis, do not meet the criteria for a TDIU from July 26, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service exposure to significant acoustic trauma while working as an aircraft camera repairman.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to outstanding private treatment records. Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to an issue with obtaining valid test results for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran will need another VA examination to determine his current severity.

The Board has remanded the claims for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected bilateral tinnitus due to new evidence submitted after the January 2020 SOC.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated as non-compensable, with the most recent VA examination showing Level II in the right ear and Level I in the left ear. The Board found that these ratings do not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and tinnitus due to exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in Korea. The claims were reopened based on new evidence showing the Veteran's disabilities had their onset in service.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and TDIU due to service-connected disability, as these issues are intertwined with the hearing loss claim. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, with the former being granted. The claim for sleep apnea remains closed as no new and material evidence has been received.,Service connection is denied for a bilateral foot condition (heel spurs and plantar fasciitis), as there is insufficient evidence to establish that the condition had its onset in service or is causally related to any incident of service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's balance issues are related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and if not, any other separate disabilities that may be associated with it.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disorder, right knee disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The diagnoses are COPD with emphysema and chronic bronchitis, right knee osteoarthritis, and bilateral hearing loss respectively.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as it did not find a causal relationship between the condition and military service, nor was there evidence of a compensable degree of disability within one year post-service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine and right shoulder disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded to allow for verification of his National Guard service and associated treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a skin disability, a back disability, and bilateral leg numbness.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and an increased rating for his postoperative acromioclavicular separation, right shoulder. The evidence did not support a finding of current right ear hearing loss disability or that the Veteran had a right shoulder disability to a degree warranting higher ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in approximate balance as to whether these conditions began during or are causally related to active service.