Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed for the Veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, including obtaining updated medical examinations and verifying any claimed stressors. The case will be remanded to allow for these steps.

The Board has remanded the case due to factual inaccuracies in a previous VA examination and for additional medical opinions regarding tuberculosis and hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence does not support a link between his current condition and his active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his bilateral hearing loss and remanded the service connection claims. The case is now pending again with additional development required.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations for these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and lumbar spine arthritis, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about credibility and the adequacy of a previous VA examination. The Veteran's hearing loss will need further evaluation, including possibly a new VA examination.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased initial ratings of right patellofemoral pain syndrome, left patellofemoral pain syndrome, and bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran withdrew his appeals in a letter to the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, specifically addressing in-service acoustic trauma and exposure to jet fuel.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to his death.

Your appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for right ear hearing loss and a back disability. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional records from Group Health and Tacoma South Medical Center, and to provide the Veteran with VA medical opinions regarding his hearing loss and lumbar spine arthritis.

The claim to reopen service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted. The claims for service connection for a low back disorder are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, major depressive disorder, and PTSD due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for left ear hearing loss and right ear hearing loss on an extra schedular basis, and the Board dismissed these appeals.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the Board has granted entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for six conditions due to a lack of reasonable efforts in obtaining his Coast Guard Reserve records and an inadequate August 2014 skin disorder examination. The Veteran is entitled to additional evidence and argument, as well as VA examinations or medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 1, 2016. The Board denied entitlement to an extraschedular TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and forgetfulness due to insufficient evidence or lack of clear medical opinion.