Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted.,The Veteran is entitled to service connection for his acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, skin condition, lung and/or breathing condition, left knee injury, right knee injury, cardiovascular problems (formerly claimed as heart problems), and diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence has been presented. However, the claim is still denied as there is no probative evidence showing a link between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus from October 2, 2013 is denied. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for chronic headaches has been granted. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of a back disorder due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The remaining issues have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn may have contributed to his sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and COPD. The effective date remains to be determined as the claim was previously denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding when the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss had its onset during her active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of chronic left ear hearing loss during his first period of active duty and that it did not manifest to a compensable degree within a presumptive period. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish a direct link between the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss and service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted service connection, while his claim for hemorrhoids remains denied due to lack of a current disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disability, low back disability, left arm disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, hemorrhoids, and skin disability (pseudofolliculitis barbae) due to incomplete records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination reports, requiring a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and increased ratings for asbestos induced pleural plaques are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service, including exposure to hazardous noise. The Veteran's submitted VA audiology report did not include a medical opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to service.,There is no current diagnosis of tinnitus in the Veteran.,Prostate cancer was not related to service, and there is no benefit of doubt to resolve in favor of the Veteran.,Neither foot disorder has been diagnosed as a current condition.,The Veteran's prostate cancer does not meet the criteria for an initial rating greater than 20 percent.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from January 26, 2021, through July 28, 2021. From July 29, 2021, the appeal for a TDIU is dismissed as moot due to his current combined rating of 100%.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connection due to in-service exposure and persistence of symptoms.,Service connection for PTSD is denied as the Veteran does not meet criteria for a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals to a left eye injury, diabetes mellitus, type II, ischemic heart disease (IHD) (diagnosed as stroke), bilateral hearing loss, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome have all been denied. The Board found no current disabilities related to the claimed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the weight of evidence is against a finding that it is related to service.,The Board also denied service connection for tinnitus, finding that the weight of evidence is against a finding that it is related to service.