Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the cases of hearing loss and tinnitus for further development due to issues with the adequacy of previous medical opinions.

The Board has dismissed the claim of entitlement to service connection for a disorder manifested by an irregular heartbeat due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, tinnitus, and bilateral calcaneal varus and plantar fasciitis. The issues of service connection for headaches and bilateral hearing loss have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional VA examinations and updated treatment records to determine the current severity of his service-connected left ear hearing loss, limitation of flexion of the left hip, and limitation of extension of the left hip. The initial ratings for these conditions are also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, as well as service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD, is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service. The Veteran testified about noise exposure during basic training and artillery maintenance, but VA records show threshold shifts of up to 15 decibels between enlistment and separation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding posttraumatic stress disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a uniform 30 percent rating for IBS is granted. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating for bilateral hearing loss and pseudofolliculitis barbae due to new evidence received by VA.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from November 18, 2014 to October 31, 2016. Effective from this date, the Veteran was awarded a TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be reviewed again with a new opinion from an appropriate VA examiner.

The Veteran's dermoid tumor status post removal is granted service connection, while his bilateral hearing loss prior to October 24, 2018 and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but has remanded his claims for residuals of a right index finger condition and TMJ.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus need to be remanded due to insufficient evidence in their current state.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's credible report of an in-service onset and continuity of symptomatology is sufficient to establish service connection. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of a causal relationship between current hearing loss and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on his audiometric test results. The Veteran was currently rated at 10 percent for both timeframes on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection was not granted for bilateral hearing loss, and a noncompensable rating remains in effect.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and lower extremity disorder were not shown to be related to service, while GERD and COPD/bronchitis were diagnosed during his lifetime.,Service connection for the claimed conditions is being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has worsened since the last VA examination, and a new evaluation is needed to determine his current severity.