Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's initial evaluations for left knee strain and chondromalacia, right knee instability, and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. The Veteran is now receiving a separate 10 percent evaluation for left knee instability and a combined 20 percent evaluation for right knee instability and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that his hearing impairment warranted such a rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and a left shoulder condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has withdrawn the issue of entitlement to service connection for prostate cancer. The issues of bilateral feet fungus, bilateral hearing loss disability, and erectile dysfunction are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate prior examination.,Service connection is denied for hearing loss and heart condition.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss in the right ear, but has remanded the issues of service connection for DJD of the lumbar spine and DJD of the right knee due to conflicting opinions from VA examiners.

The Board has remanded the cases for a new medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss, as the previous opinions were inadequate.

The Veteran's hearing loss rating was reduced from 100% to 0%, but the Board found that there was no improvement under ordinary conditions of life and work, so the rating is restored to 100%.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for his scar, status-post right hernia repairs, or for his bilateral hearing loss, right knee scar, tinnitus, PTSD, status-post right knee replacement, or chondromalacia of the left knee.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for shortness of breath is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,An initial rating of 30 percent, prior to August 3, 2019, for unspecified depressive disorder is denied; and a rating of 50 percent, but no higher, since then is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the onset and relationship of his hearing loss to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to new evidence added to the record, including a VA examination that may address whether his hearing loss is related to his service-connected TBI.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied.,Service connection for chloracne, arms and hands and solar keratosis, face and arms (claimed as skin rash arms and hands) is remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, but his right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied, while his claim for a compensable disability rating for herpes simplex was granted. The claims for initial ratings for left hip bursitis (limitation of flexion), extension, and abduction were also granted. His claim for an increased rating for major depressive disorder was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is dismissed as the benefits have already been granted.,Service connection for GERD (claimed as gastric inflammation) has been granted. The Board finds that the Veteran’s current diagnosis of GERD is at least as likely as not etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's increased ratings for degenerative cervical disc disease and bilateral hearing loss are denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disorders have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA mental health treatment records. The initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and the increased PTSD rating are both pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to address his service-connected disabilities, including headaches, COPD, diarrhea, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran also has several issues related to service connection that are being addressed in the remand process.