Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss disability, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service. The Board also found that secondary service connection was not warranted as his hearing loss did not occur proximately due to his service-connected parotid gland tumor.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for this condition. The Veteran's current hearing loss is linked to in-service noise exposure from artillery, particularly during his military duties as a field artillery man.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment for the period from December 20, 2013 to August 9, 2019. The Board granted a TDIU based solely on his PTSD during this period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during service or an applicable presumption period and noting that the Veteran did not meet VA regulations for hearing impairment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded due to the lack of a recent VA examination and a legible copy of the private audiogram. The claims file will be updated with all available treatment records, and a new VA audiology examination will be scheduled.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient explanation in a previous VA examination regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's additional hearing loss, cranial swelling, vertigo, disorientation, memory loss, and left jaw pain are not deemed to be caused by VA care or treatment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there was no prior formal or informal claim received before June 7, 2018.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that his audiometric test results did not meet VA criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service, including a need for additional audiometric testing.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD, as well as updated VA treatment records are needed. The TDIU claim is granted throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and bilateral pes planus have worsened, requiring new examinations to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability and hypertension have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The earlier effective dates for PTSD and tinnitus are denied as there were no prior, unadjudicated claims.,PTSD was granted with an initial rating from April 17, 2015 to May 30, 2018, and a higher rating than 10 percent for tinnitus is being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The claims are being returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, a vision disorder, and residuals of a shrapnel wound, claiming as a right leg injury. The reasons include inconsistencies in the Veteran's statements regarding his military service and mental health history.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for psychiatric disability, TBI, and left thigh and tibia disorder have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for respiratory disorder and bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is granted for a respiratory disorder (including asthma and allergic rhinitis with hay fever) and reopened claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, and both conditions are granted as the evidence now shows a link to his active service.