Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service connection for left ear hearing loss disability is granted. The initial compensable rating claim for the left fourth finger fracture is denied, and the issue of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss disability is remanded. Service connection for headaches and bilateral knee disability are also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they require additional evidence, including VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and service connection claims have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which resulted from exposure to military acoustic trauma, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation effective March 2, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, and glaucoma as secondary to cancer treatment due to potential exposure to toxins and herbicides during service. The VA is instructed to investigate the Veteran's reports of alleged exposure and schedule him for appropriate examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination reports and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability. The examiner is required to address all periods of service, including ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his bilateral hearing loss disability is denied because there was no expressed intent to apply for service connection between September 11, 2008 and February 23, 2015.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to acoustic trauma during his active duty service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and bleeding/stomach ulcer due to insufficient evidence. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and psychiatric disability (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression) are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear SNHL was reopened, and the Board granted service connection. A 10 percent rating was also granted for bilateral SNHL. The case is remanded for additional development.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board found that new and material evidence had been received, and thus, he is now entitled to a determination on the merits of these claims.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his current hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his service, as there was no evidence of a hearing loss disability during or immediately after service. The Board found the May 2020 VA examination report to be most probative in determining that the Veteran's hearing loss was unrelated to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and Meniere's disease are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a connection between his active duty service and these conditions.,For vertigo, the Veteran is being asked to undergo further examination as he consistently claims this condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected due to noise exposure during active service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded to obtain a new medical opinion considering the most favorable audiometric test results and the Veteran's lay contentions.

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

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for right ear hearing loss, gout, a respiratory disorder other than bronchial asthma, and a rating in excess of 30 percent for bronchial asthma. The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn prior to the promulgation of a decision.