Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has dismissed the appeals for entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, so these cases are dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for a back disability, sleep apnea (secondary to service-connected bronchitis), bilateral hearing loss, and bronchitis. The Veteran's records from CHRISTUS Mother Frances in Tyler, Texas need to be obtained. An examination is needed for all issues.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.,Service connection has been granted for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical nexus opinions. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for his hearing loss since March 14, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted.,Service connection has been established for allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the most recent VA examination showing Level I hearing acuity in both ears.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on the Veteran's reported onset during active duty and his credible lay statements.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development and opinion regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of recent VA correspondence at the Veteran's address, and the need for another VA examination in compliance with the June 2022 remand directives.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection to sleep apnea, including as secondary to PTSD with a depressive disorder and/or left ear hearing loss, is remanded. The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with a depressive disorder is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an initial compensable disability rating for hypertension. The Veteran's appeal was remanded regarding the issue of a higher rating for his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an error in finding a pre-decisional duty to assist, and will seek an addendum opinion from the VA audiologist.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as these conditions are presumed to have been incurred in service.,Service connection is also granted for tinnitus as it is proximately due to a service-connected disability (bilateral hearing loss).,Service connection is denied for COPD, as there is no evidence of its onset within one year after the last date of herbicide exposure and no other basis for presumptive service connection.,Service connection is denied for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to lack of evidence showing it became manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more within a year after the last date of herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding when the Veteran's BPPV manifested and how long it had been a problem, as well as whether it is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active duty service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete information regarding the qualifications of the VA examiners who provided the examinations. The Veteran and his representative need to be notified about this issue.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, left upper extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, groin rash, and sleep apnea were not shown to be related to service.,Service connection for these conditions was denied.