Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, epistaxis (nosebleeds), right ankle sprain, left elbow skin disorder, a left foot disorder, right side rib contusion, an external canal occlusion, and headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The decision is based on direct evidence of a link between service exposure and the current disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension due to new and material evidence submitted in February 2017. The case is remanded for a VA examination to determine if hypertension is related to service, including exposure to Agent Orange/herbicides. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus claims are also remanded for addendum opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as they are not related to service, with the exception of a remanded matter for hypertension.,Service connection for fibromyalgia was denied due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient examination reports, lack of contemporaneous medical evidence, and need for further consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development regarding service connection for the Veteran's ear disability, including intracanalicular acoustic neuroma, right ear hearing loss, and vertigo. The AOJ is instructed to obtain updated VA treatment records, verify the Veteran's exposure to radiation and hazardous materials during service, forward his claim to the VA Under Secretary for Benefits, and schedule an examination to determine if these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted.,Both conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeals for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal by his authorized representative.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and initial ratings for his service-connected left index finger scars are being remanded due to the submission of additional relevant evidence.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is granted as incurred during active service.,There is no evidence of a left ear hearing loss disability meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and low back disability have been reopened, but the claim for increased rating for PTSD prior to May 5, 2020, and higher than 70 percent thereafter has been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional records and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability, and left little finger disability have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or exposure sufficient to establish service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the service connection claims related to various conditions, including right and left ankle sprains, sinusitis, contact dermatitis, eczema, blisters on the feet, wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, sciatica, upper respiratory infection, alopecia, hair implants, DJD of the hip, lumbar spine DDD, and hearing loss. The Board dismissed these claims as a result.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of service connection for ear pain, social isolation, and BPPV secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as not related to service.,Service connection for PFB was also denied, with the Board finding that his current condition is less likely than not due to service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of STRs, potential occupational and recreational noise exposure, and insufficient medical history. The Veteran will be asked to provide any outstanding VA treatment records, and a new VA examination will be scheduled to determine if his current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to military noise exposure.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all his claims on appeal, including service connection for hearing loss, left and right knee conditions, headaches, initial compensable disability rating for right eye nerve palsy with diplopia and conjunctival scar and left eye dryness, and an initial disability rating greater than 30 percent for left eye corneal scar. The Board dismissed the appeal due to this withdrawal.