Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to outstanding audiometric testing results.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, hypertension, and a broken right hand due to incomplete medical records from his service.

The Veteran's hearing loss was restored to a 90 percent rating from February 1, 2018 to June 18, 2020 and granted a 100 percent rating starting on June 18, 2020. The issue of SMC based on deafness in both ears is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a skin rash and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service.,The Veteran's representative argued his skin rash was related to heroin use during service, but the VA examiner found no evidence of an STI or other condition in service. The examiner also concluded there was insufficient medical evidence to establish a nexus between current dermatitis and urticaria and past heroin use.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss from November 2, 2015 to November 22, 2021 was denied. The claim for a rating greater than 50 percent for bilateral hearing loss since November 22, 2021 was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is causally related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss began during service and is therefore granted as a result of in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and lumbosacral strain due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for these conditions, which are currently rated as noncompensable and 20 percent respectively.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and residuals of a right 5th metatarsal fracture have all been denied by the Board.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been granted. The case is remanded for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and for determining the cause of his prostate cancer residuals and basal cell carcinoma.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability and for a rating in excess of 0 percent for hypertension.,Right ear hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of hearing impairment at separation. Hypertension did not manifest within one year after separation.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the February 2015 rating decision remained final due to the untimely filing of a VA Form 9.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to conflicting evidence regarding service exposure and the Veteran's own inconsistent statements. The issues are not resolved in favor of granting service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of bilateral hearing loss and concussion residuals are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was granted, effective January 23, 2017. The case is remanded for further development on other service connection claims.

Service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted. The Board also remanded the remaining issues, including service connection for a neck disorder and higher ratings for various knee disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its onset in service and granted.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability is found to have begun during active service and granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disability, likely due to exposure to Agent Orange and UV light during active duty. The BHL claim remains pending as the evidence is not sufficient to determine its origin.,Service connection was established for the Veteran's skin cancer based on presumed exposure to Agent Orange. However, the cause of his bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (BHL) could not be definitively determined.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need to obtain his VA treatment records.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of neck disability and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for a rating increase for tension headaches was granted with a 30% disability rating.