Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous VA opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss. The claim will be reviewed again with a new examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not related to his military service.,There was no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and any post-service complaints are too remote in time from service.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder joint pain, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active military service.,Specifically, there was no objective medical evidence showing a link between any of these conditions and the Veteran's time in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his period of active duty service. The case will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bladder cancer and cause of death. The Board found that the Veteran's bladder cancer was not related to his active duty service, including presumed herbicide exposure, nor was it proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected prostate cancer. The Board also determined that none of the Veteran's service-connected conditions played a role in his death.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions in the claims file.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression), erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy lower extremities disabilities have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.,No specific exposure basis was provided in the decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that it preexisted service and did not worsen during service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and an examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link to active duty service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals due to the Veteran's death, and no jurisdiction remains for these claims.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral hearing loss disability, but denied the claim for service connection for left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied until April 30, 2018 when the Board granted a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted as his exposure to herbicide agents during active service has been presumed.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied due to lack of evidence showing the conditions began during or are related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The Board finds the evidence in equipoise, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran. For sleep apnea and RLS, additional medical records are needed to determine their etiology. Bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to noise exposure during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. The Board finds that an additional VA examination is needed to ascertain the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer, type II diabetes mellitus, and a heart disorder are remanded due to the need for further development regarding herbicide exposure and possible verification of in-service events. The Board also finds that VA examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current disorders.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine its relationship to his military service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and low back disorder are remanded due to the need for VA examinations to determine their nature and etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again with a new examination.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development due to an oversight in the examination report.

The appeal for initial compensable disability ratings for various conditions, including a scar on the bridge of nose as a residual of nose fracture and obstructive sleep apnea secondary to service-connected broken nose, is dismissed. The appeals for service connection for tuberculosis residuals and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.