Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA must obtain service treatment records, schedule a VA examination, and provide an adequate opinion on the nature and etiology of the disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is related to his active service, granting entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the schedular guidelines.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for a psychiatric disability, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as service connection is not established.

The Veteran's respiratory disability is not service-connected, and his TDIU claim is granted due to multiple service-connected disabilities preventing him from working.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and active duty service.

The Veteran withdrew his claims to reopen the previously denied claims for bronchitis, a cervical spine disorder, and left ear hearing loss, as well as for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was rated as noncompensable prior to March 18, 2020 and granted a 10% rating beginning on that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been remanded due to new evidence submitted after the December 2008 rating decision. The Board found that this evidence is new and material, thus allowing the reopening of these claims.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss service connection is denied.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is granted based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents while stationed at U-Tapao Air Force Base in Thailand.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss must be remanded for an updated VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus type II is remanded for a nexus opinion.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are both remanded for a VA examination and medical opinion.,The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, and service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are all remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss due to lack of a nexus between the condition and military service. The right ear hearing loss is found to have pre-existed service, but the VA audiologist's opinion did not address whether there was an increase in disability during service that was clearly and unmistakably due to natural progression.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as the current evaluation of Level II hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or caused by service. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has dismissed all appeals for service connection and disability ratings due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral flat feet and bone spurs, left shoulder condition, and right shoulder condition have been granted.,Service connection has been granted for sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claim for left ear hearing loss due to insufficient evidence regarding its relationship to service, including conflicting opinions and lack of definitive studies on delayed onset hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability has been reopened due to new and material evidence. The Board is remanding the case for a VA audiology examination to determine if his current hearing loss disability is related to in-service noise exposure, medication for tuberculosis, or both.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable (0 percent) since December 2015. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the Veteran's complaints of difficulty hearing and understanding speech, which are already addressed by the current disability rating.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings of low back disability, left knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeal is dismissed.