Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions. The Board also found that any current disabilities were not related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected, while the remaining issues (left ankle pain, acoustic neuroma, PTSD, and dysthymia) were withdrawn by the Veteran during his February 2022 Board hearing.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connection due to noise exposure during service.,Service connection for hepatic steatosis and cirrhosis (liver diseases) is denied, with the Board finding that the liver disease did not manifest within one year of discharge and is not related to service.

The appeals for service connection of hepatitis C, obstructive sleep apnea, headaches, and a rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus have been dismissed.,The appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his bilateral hearing loss was denied. He is currently rated at 30 percent since May 15, 2021.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability did not worsen during service and therefore cannot be granted as service-connected. The evidence does not show an increase in severity of the underlying condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure in VA's duty to assist by not associating a July 2015 VA audiology record with the claims file. The Veteran needs their specific test results of the hearing test performed on July 28, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, and his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and need for further evaluation of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating increase for tinnitus is dismissed. The claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss disability is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to November 2, 2020, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter is being remanded due to the lack of complete VA audiological examination records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to acoustic trauma incurred during combat service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's heart disability, prostate cancer, diabetes, bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing they were incurred or aggravated by his military service.,Specifically, the Board found insufficient evidence to support a finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his time in Thailand. The Veteran's service records do not indicate he had any ongoing problems with these conditions while in service and there is no other competent medical evidence suggesting an association to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, hypertension, lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder disability, right elbow disability, and right wrist disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tuberculosis is also being remanded due to the need for an examination.

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

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for CAD, CLL, generalized anxiety disorder, and hypertension due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during his naval service.

The Board has found service connection for tinnitus and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine as secondary to service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.