Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has dismissed all appeals due to the appellant's request for withdrawal of his appeals.

The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, respiratory disorders other than asthma including chronic cough, COPD and RAD, and sleep apnea syndromes are reopened. The claim of service connection for a thoracic spine disorder (secondary to right shoulder disability), a cervical spine disorder (secondary to right shoulder disability), chronic fatigue syndrome (secondary to sleep apnea syndromes), and migraines (secondary to cervical spine disorder) is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his military service. The Board noted that while the Veteran was exposed to noise during service, he had normal hearing upon separation and post-service occupational noise exposure may be more likely related to his current hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board finds new and material evidence to support these claims. The appeals are granted in part.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and unspecified depression were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20% for bilateral hearing loss or a rating in excess of 70% for unspecified depression.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether this condition was incurred during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic headaches, positional vertigo, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus, have prevented him from securing or maintaining gainful employment prior to July 31, 2017. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision found that there was no evidence of onset or continuity of symptoms in service, and thus denied these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, with the Board finding that it began during active duty and has persisted since then.,The Veteran withdrew his claim for photosensitivity of the eyes (aversion to sunlight), which was previously service connected. The Board found no evidence linking this condition to military service.,The Veteran's tinea versicolor is granted as a service-connected disability, with the Board noting that it has persisted since service and may require long-term treatment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to internal contradictions in the VA examiner's opinion, lack of consideration of relevant audiometric evaluations, and insufficient rationale.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions based on in-service complaints and exposure to hazardous noise.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 28, 2021, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support ratings higher than non-compensable for both periods.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, ischemic heart disease, and lumbar spine condition must be remanded due to the need for updated medical records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and service connection for right ear hearing loss have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and a back condition due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and right ear disorder have been denied, as well as the TDIU claim.