Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss as there is no current disability in this ear, based on audiometric results that do not meet the criteria for a hearing loss disability under VA regulations.

The Veteran's hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The cases for pes planus, peripheral neuropathy in all four extremities, and a psychiatric disability (including PTSD) are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD and other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder are granted service connection. Service connection for COPD, bilateral hearing loss, and skin condition (to include squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma) is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss began during his military service and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as the evidence did not show that his hearing impairment warranted a higher rating prior to December 3, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and right ear hearing loss, finding no increase in pre-existing hearing loss during service and no evidence of noise exposure that would support a presumption of service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss disability and remanded the issue of service connection for residuals of a cold weather injury of the right big toe due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service in Korea.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to August 21, 2019 was denied. From August 21, 2019 onwards, the Veteran's hearing loss was rated as noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is not related to service and therefore denied. The hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion. The cluster headache disability is also remanded.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the June 2021 directives and thus remanded for further examination. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service exposure.

The Board has granted a staged rating of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss effective November 1, 2013 and a 50 percent rating effective October 28, 2015. The case is being remanded to adjudicate the claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected on a presumptive basis. The case for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral pes planus, and lung disability due to inadequate examinations that did not properly consider the Veteran's lay statements. The Veteran was stationed aboard a submarine where he may have been exposed to asbestos, which could be related to his lung disability.

The Board denied an effective date prior to July 18, 2017 for the award of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and denied an initial compensable rating for this condition.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back injury, bilateral hearing loss, and left ear tinnitus due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA opinion to address the Veteran's testimony regarding symptoms during and after service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a significant threshold shift during service and that post-service factors were more likely to have caused the hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, migraines, OSA, and vertigo are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the Veteran's conditions did not manifest in or shortly after service, there was no continuity of symptomatology from service to diagnosis, and his conditions are otherwise unrelated to service, including in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability for VA purposes.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.