Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sinus condition was dismissed as the grant of service connection in August 2022 resulted in a full grant of benefits sought on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also dismissed as the RO granted service connection effective December 17, 2016.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have started during his military service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records review. The issues of service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, feet disorder, peripheral neuropathy, and residuals of frostbite are being reviewed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that it did not have its onset in service and was not otherwise related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, both presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient clarification of speech recognition test used and a need for a retrospective VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from July 25, 2018 to April 17, 2019. The Board granted the TDIU claim based on multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including hepatitis C and tonsil cancer. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability due to conflicting evidence and lack of an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or permanently housebound, thus SMC based on aid and attendance is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision found that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred during his active service, while the evidence does not support a finding that his current bilateral hearing loss was caused by in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to bilateral hearing loss, respiratory conditions (including sleep apnea), right ankle condition, left hand condition, and right hand condition require further development due to inadequate or incomplete examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since February 13, 2018. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not found to be related to service, and the Board denied entitlement to service connection for accrued benefits.

The Veteran's appeal regarding his bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss or a higher than 50 percent rating for OSA.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the issues of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions regarding in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure caused his current sensorineural hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss but has remanded the issue of service connection for a respiratory disorder due to in-service exposure to toxins, fumes, and other environmental agents.