Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for direct service connection due to lack of in-service noise exposure and no evidence of a nexus between current hearing loss and service. The Board also found that presumptive service connection was not warranted as there was no showing of continuous symptoms since service or within one year of separation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and right ear hearing loss prior to January 20, 2021. The evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of her hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence linking his current hearing loss to service or any incident of service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a compensable rating for tinnitus and hearing loss have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted reopening of service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a low back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. Service connection is now established for these conditions due to the Veteran's exposure to noise during service and continuous symptoms since discharge.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected as it had its onset during his military service due to noise exposure.

Your appeal has been dismissed due to the death of your spouse. The Board does not have jurisdiction to decide the merits of this case as you are no longer alive.

The Board denied service connection for right and left ear hearing loss disabilities, finding that the Veteran did not have a current hearing loss disability in either ear as defined by VA regulations. The Board concluded there was no evidence of noise exposure during service or continuity of symptomatology post-service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, tremors of the right upper extremity, tremors of the left lower extremity, and thyroglossal cyst is being remanded due to insufficient development.,Service connection will not be granted as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure in the Veteran's claimed locations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the VA examiner not addressing the potential inadequacies of the November 1968 separation service examination 'whisper test'. The hypertension case is also being remanded as the February 2021 VA examination did not include an etiology opinion regarding whether or not the Veteran's hypertension and service, including any in-service elevated blood pressure readings, combat related stress, and herbicide exposure therein, are related.,The TDIU claim prior to September 23, 2020 is being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with other claims that have been remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the right ear hearing loss issue, leaving only left ear hearing loss and tinnitus issues which were granted in a separate rating decision.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to an inadequate VA medical opinion. The Veteran's representative argued that the November 2021 VA opinion did not address the IOM report on delayed onset noise-induced hearing loss, which is a key issue in this case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and a higher rating for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and unspecified alcohol-related disorder. The evidence did not support granting any of these claims.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a left thumb disability has been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is reopened, but the effective date earlier than March 18, 2014 is denied.,The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for right knee internal derangement and degenerative joint disease, scar, status post right medial meniscectomy, painful right knee scar, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), and degenerative disc disease mild and facet arthropathy, mild L4-5, L5-S1 are all denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition is also denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's current hearing loss and his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to an inadequate VA examination that failed to consider the Veteran's reports of in-service hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is being returned for an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to their opt-in into the modernized review system.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to January 7, 2013, and from January 7, 2013, to September 21, 2015. The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to October 5, 2018, was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for labyrinthitis/Meniere's disease and bilateral hearing loss due to potential exposure during active service. The VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.