Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases in its decision, specifically regarding the Veteran's hearing loss. The matter is now being sent back for an adequate VA examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or maintain a substantially gainful occupation since March 31, 2011. Therefore, entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's peripheral vestibular disorder (Meniere's disease), obstructive sleep apnea, and bilateral hearing loss. The issues include determining whether these conditions are related to service-connected disabilities or have other origins.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability was not shown to be etiologically related to noise exposure during active service. The right ear hearing loss disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and heart disability (including ischemic heart disease and coronary artery disease with bypass surgery) are granted as presumptively related to herbicide exposure during service in Thailand. Bilateral hearing loss, aortic valve stenosis, arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, palpitations, murmur, hypertension, actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma are presumed due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of rating for right knee disability and service connection for left knee disorder. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral inguinal hernia, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's current conditions are attributed to the natural progression of pre-existing conditions aggravated by in-service lifting activities.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus have all been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,Service connection cannot be established on a presumptive basis because the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board finds that his previous diagnoses were erroneous.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for seizures and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's seizure claim is remanded because VA failed to obtain all relevant private treatment records from Baylor Scott & White Medical Center. The hearing loss claim is remanded because the VA medical opinion was insufficient.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a low back disability, radiculopathy associated with a low back disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of adequate rationale in the private medical opinions provided by the Veteran. The VA is instructed to obtain private treatment records and schedule the Veteran for additional examinations.

The Veteran was granted service connection for deviated septum and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, but denied hearing loss.,Service connection for deviated septum is granted based on continuity of symptomatology since active service. Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted as well due to continuous symptoms since active service.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that has not been reviewed by the AOJ.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need to verify his periods of active duty and obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding whether his hearing loss was incurred during or related to any period of service, including Reserve service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate development in previous examinations. The case will be reviewed with a new addendum opinion from a different provider.

Your appeal for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been dismissed because the VA has already granted this benefit.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease, and the condition did not manifest within one year of separation from service. The Veteran's current hearing loss is attributed to post-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, in the aggregate, likely preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him unemployable, and the Board has granted TDIU based on this condition.