Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has increased in severity, and he is being asked to report for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's hypertension, heart disability, and lumbar spine disability are granted service connection due to herbicide exposure. The right ear hearing loss and cervical spine disability claims are denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis claims are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The Board requests an addendum opinion for both issues, focusing on the relationship between the conditions and service.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded to allow for further review by a VA clinician.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received sufficient to readjudicate the claims for service connection of a low back condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder and anxiety), and left ear hearing loss. However, the Veteran does not have a current disability for VA purposes in any of these cases.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his inability to use assistive devices and maintain independent mobility.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective April 19, 2021.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, bilateral hearing loss condition, and tinnitus should be remanded due to procedural errors in obtaining medical records and a need for additional opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and the claim for service connection has been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and requires an additional examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and current bilateral hearing loss. A new VA examination is required.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development, including medical opinions and a VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable prior to July 19, 2022, and a rating in excess of 30 percent since then.,The Veteran's right benign lipomatous neoplasm of the skin and subcutaneous tissue is remanded for further evaluation due to lack of nexus opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new questions regarding whether the Veteran's hearing loss is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to exposure to gunfire during service. Service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of hearing loss at any point during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a neck disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability and insufficient medical opinion linking it to service or service-connected migraines.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability remains pending as her audiometric evaluations have not met the threshold requirements for a disability under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded several claims, including service connection for PTSD and GERD, as well as the increased rating claim for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is also being remanded to obtain an adequate etiology opinion.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, sciatica in either lower extremity, and bilateral hearing loss are denied. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine if his hearing loss was aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability related to his military service and that there was no evidence of noise exposure during service. The claim is therefore denied.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated at 100% effective July 1, 2015. SMC for deafness in both ears is granted effective the same date.