Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding increased evaluations and service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

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

The Board has decided that the VA treatment records from January 2015 to the present, which include audiometric tests at the Dallas VA Medical Center, need to be obtained and reviewed. The hearing loss claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities as secondary to bilateral knee disabilities, and for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals regarding the issues of increased rating for folliculitis, service connection for partial use left side of body, mental disability (mood swings), hearing loss in the left ear, and degenerative arthritis with meniscal tear, right knee. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable prior to August 10, 2022 and at least 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's headaches are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance prior to October 27, 2015, due to the need for further action by the Director, VA Compensation Service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of current disabilities or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected sinusitis. However, the claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a scar of the posterolateral scalp was granted with an effective date of July 28, 2011.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was granted. The Veteran reported experiencing these conditions during service and continuing to experience them since then.,Service connection for hepatitis C/liver disorder was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is as likely as not caused by in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical evaluations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss as defined by VA standards.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including exposure to hazardous noise. As a result, the claim for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypertension have been reopened. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of these claims.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral foot disability and PTSD. The decision is final as no further action was taken on these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right hip arthritis with hip joint replacement and left hip trochanteric, bursitis, degenerative arthritis, and prosthetic left hip joint, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU based on his combined disability rating of 100 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, and left clavicle disability were denied. The Veteran was granted an initial rating of 70 percent for his adjustment disorder.

The VA denied the Veteran's eligibility for benefits under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) due to concerns about the caregiver's ability to address the Veteran's needs and a history of violent behavior.