Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and need for clarification from a previous examination.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or permanently bedridden, thus he is denied special monthly compensation based on housebound status or permanent need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and bilateral hearing loss. The decision on service connection for these conditions is pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete development. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction claim is denied, and his other claims are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential inconsistencies in medical opinions regarding the onset of hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen service connection for PTSD, residuals of a right arm fracture, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for left knee strain, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to new and material evidence. The Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service.,Service connection is granted for left knee strain, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for the following: procurement of Social Security Administration records pertaining to his SSDI application, and consideration of TDIU based on bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to support the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, including obtaining outstanding VA outpatient treatment records and verifying her in-service exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran also needs a VA examination to address her current disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for ulcers, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of gastric ulcers began during service and have been continuous since service separation. Service connection for left hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its relationship with tinnitus.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the issue of nerve damage in both ears due to lack of a VA examination and relevant medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was on INACDUTRA on October 3, 1970 and experienced numbness and hearing loss at that time. The decision is remanded to determine if his current bilateral hearing loss is related to this period of service.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a suitably qualified clinician to address whether these conditions are related to service or any incident therein.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service acoustic trauma. The decision also establishes secondary service connection for tinnitus as a symptom of his service-connected right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently assigned a noncompensable rating, as the audiometric results do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA's rating schedule.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of entitlement to an initial rating higher than 10 percent for bilateral glaucoma and cataracts, and right eye pterygium.

The Veteran's appeal for right knee disability is dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the issue. The Board has remanded several other issues including peripheral neuropathy, respiratory disability, sleep apnea, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, skin disability (PFB), bilateral kidney disability, hearing loss, insomnia, depression, erectile dysfunction, and eye conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to incomplete records and inadequate VA examination.