Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was granted service connection. The issues of left ear hearing loss, bilateral hip disorder, bilateral leg disorder, left ankle disorder and bilateral foot disorder are remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for skin cancer. The decision on the hearing loss claim is based on noise exposure during service, while the skin cancer claim was denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his condition did not warrant a higher than 20 percent rating. The Board found that the increase in his hearing loss after his stroke in April 2011, rather than service exposure, caused his current level of disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine his eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss and his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 8, 2020 and in excess of 30 percent thereafter was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating prior to January 8, 2020 or any rating in excess of 30 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective October 10, 2013. The Veteran seeks an increased rating.,For the period prior to June 6, 2016, the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to noise exposure during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is etiologically related to his noise exposure in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or service-connected diabetes. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology and severity of the Veteran's left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and acquired psychiatric disability. The right knee disability rating issue is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination results and inability to determine a relationship between the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and service.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus is granted. The Veteran's current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus requires management by a restricted diet.,An initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Veteran’s current hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.,The Veteran's thalamic stroke with speech impediment prior to August 6, 2018 is rated at 10 percent and remains unchanged. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s current condition meets the criteria for an increased evaluation.,An initial rating of 20 percent for varicose veins of the right lower extremity is granted. The Veteran's persistent edema, incompletely relieved by elevation, meets the criteria for a 20 percent rating under VA regulations.,An initial rating of 20 percent for varicose veins of the left lower extremity is granted. Similar to the right side, the Veteran’s persistent edema, incompletely relieved by elevation, meets the criteria for a 20 percent rating under VA regulations.,Service connection for a right knee disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection for a left knee disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection for sciatic nerve trouble of the right lower extremity as secondary to service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is remanded due to insufficient evidence.,An evaluation in excess of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is remanded due to insufficient evidence.,An evaluation in excess of 10 percent for cerebrovascular accident (CVA) related to cardiac embolic event from March 1, 2019 is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for right leg length discrepancy resulting from a TKA performed at VA in April 2014 was denied as there is no additional disability due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar fault on the part of VA.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was also denied as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and right shoulder arthritis with chronic tear of the supraspinatus muscle, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeals for reopening service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's hypertension and left ear hearing loss have been evaluated as noncompensable (0%) throughout the appeal period.,Right ear hearing loss has not been service-connected.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and in-service noise exposure.