Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal to increase his rating for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case as a result.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypertension are granted as presumptively related to service exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand. The bilateral hearing loss is also granted, with the Board finding it at least as likely as not related to service. However, the Veteran's bilateral knee disability and back disability remain pending due to a need for additional medical examination.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disability and back disability are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his TDIU claim.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of neck, right shoulder, left thumb, and middle finger laceration disorders. The low back disorder claim was also dismissed.,The Veteran's hearing loss disability is not service-connected.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right ear disabilities, hearing loss, recurrent ear infections, ruptured ear drum, lumbar degenerative disc disease, tinea corporis, right foot disability, and left foot disability have been denied.,Service connection was granted for lumbar degenerative disc disease.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, both of which are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise and grants service connection for bilateral hearing loss, pes planus of the left foot, and pes planus of the right foot due to their relationship with pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's spouse is not eligible for PCAFC benefits due to a lack of caregiver training and the failure to complete assessments within 90 days. The Board has remanded the case to ensure proper completion of these requirements.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for a higher rating for right ear hearing loss. The claim for an increased rating of PTSD is granted, but remanded due to lack of VA examination for bilateral glaucoma.

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

The Veteran's OSA was not incurred in service and is denied.,The Veteran's left thumb disability, characterized as pain, does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.,The Veteran's bilateral high-frequency hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 10 percent.,Service connection for dry eye syndrome and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have been incurred during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the VA Centralized Eligibility and Appeals Team (CEAT) decision denying eligibility for PCAFC benefits was inadequate, and thus remanded for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss on a direct basis, finding that his current condition is at least as likely as not caused by exposure to in-service hazardous noise.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a grant of TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to service, and thus grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of hearing loss due to inconsistencies in audiometric test results and need for clarification on etiology.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea claim is denied, and the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability are remanded due to procedural errors.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left inguinal hernia with hernia repair, low back strain, and right shoulder injury as the evidence did not support a nexus to service.