Hearing loss decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, a low back disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to procedural errors in obtaining medical opinions and treatment records.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun during or be related to military service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The Veteran's bladder cancer claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for award of a TDIU, and his service-connected disabilities preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, and allergic rhinitis have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they do not have a link to in-service noise exposure.,PTSD, sleep problems, and a skin rash were not diagnosed or linked to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is due to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as related to herbicide exposure in Thailand. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied due to lack of service connection evidence. Service connection for a heart condition, specifically an aneurysm, is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and an inadequate VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed because the appellant has died and the AOJ has not made an initial substitution eligibility determination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a lack of adequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hearing loss condition existed prior to service and if it was aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received for the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 3, 2019 for a 30 percent rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the missing audiometric data from January 7, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a neck condition. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

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

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss during the Board hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis and exposure to hazardous noise during service are sufficient evidence to grant this claim.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right arm disability, and dental trauma due to duty-to-assist errors. The cases are being returned for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran did not have continuous symptoms since separation from active duty and there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure causing his current condition.,The Board also denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left wrist, concluding that the Veteran's current condition is more likely due to normal aging rather than an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate January 2020 VA examination, and further development is needed to determine if any portion of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.