Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeals for service connection for left ear hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disability (excluding posttraumatic stress disorder), a dental disability, and a right elbow disability due to new evidence received by VA.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 25, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential herbicide exposure and noise exposure during his active service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for ischemic heart disease, bilateral feet peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran asserts that his hearing loss began in service and continues today, supported by lay evidence. Additional VA treatment records are needed, as well as a new medical opinion considering all relevant factors.

The Veteran's hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations, and thus her claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to in-service noise exposure and meets the requirements of presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records, specifically audiometric test results and clarification on speech discrimination testing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, borderline personality disorder, adjustment disorder, antisocial personality disorder, major depressive disorder, and alcohol abuse and polysubstance abuse disorder is denied. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The initial compensable disability rating for superficial peroneal nerve disorder resulting from intervertebral disc syndrome is denied. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for a VA examination. The appellant seeks veteran status based on service during ACDUTRA, which may be related to his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence, and the Veteran's symptoms did not manifest within one year post-service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow any form of substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective September 10, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic brain injury residuals, lumbosacral spine intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative joint disease, PTSD, and other conditions, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has also determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations.,The Veteran's claim for residuals of TB drugs is denied as there is no persuasive evidence that his current symptoms are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral foot fungus, sleepiness (sleep apnea), low back condition, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and tinnitus is not related to service. The appeal for psychiatric disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back disability, and bilateral hand numbness due to unresolved development needs.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability and remanded the issues of service connection for neck and left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, chronic sinusitis and rhinitis, COPD, and emphysema are being reviewed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and tinea pedis and tinea cruris were granted. The Veteran's GERD was rated at a 10 percent disability rating.

The Board has found the most recent VA examination inadequate and remanded both claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service noise exposure.