Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The case is remanded for additional development regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and prostate cancer.

The Veteran's hearing loss and lumbar spine disability were denied higher ratings. The lower extremity radiculopathies received remanded issues for rating determinations.,Effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits were also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss that meets VA criteria.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the claims of TDIU prior to April 24, 2017; ischemic heart disease evaluation in excess of 30 percent; service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to other service-connected disabilities; and right ear hearing loss. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA audiological examination to determine the current nature and severity of any right ear hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate opinions regarding their etiology. The VA needs to obtain additional treatment records, including from Alexandria VA Health Care System, and provide updated medical opinions that consider the Veteran's reported noise exposure in service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran was not shown to have current diagnoses of these conditions during or in proximity to the appeal period.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and sinusitis is remanded as no SOC has been issued addressing these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, while his claims for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, type II were granted based on presumed exposure to herbicides during active duty in Thailand.

The Veteran's appeals regarding various disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, heart disorder, adrenal adenoma, hypertension, gout, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD, have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of right knee injury and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The Veteran contends that his current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to military noise exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The matter will be addressed with a new VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's preexisting hearing loss was aggravated by or during his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is evidence to support these conditions had their onset in service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's now service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, a heart disability, hemorrhoids, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss prior to September 24, 2019 and from that date forward has been denied. The Board found the criteria for a higher rating were not met in either period.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating greater than 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's appeal for a rating greater than 20 percent for left knee degenerative joint disease with limitation of extension is remanded. The appeal for entitlement to TDIU is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss was dismissed because he opted into the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) system, thus, his claim cannot be adjudicated in the legacy system.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing the disability was incurred in or aggravated by service. The Veteran's STRs are silent for complaints, treatment, or diagnoses related to hearing loss.,Service connection for back disability and OSA is remanded as there is insufficient information regarding the etiology of these conditions based on the provided records.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected lung disability, to include pleural plaques due to asbestos exposure; entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are remanded for further development.