Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including back, migraine headaches, vertigo, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right foot condition, and left foot condition due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to incomplete records. The audiogram results from October 2017 need to be located and added to the claims file.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and treatment records to address the Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and the loss of the right great toenail or disabilities manifested by excessive urinary voiding, low testosterone, aching throughout the entire body, or hypothyroidism are denied.,Initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left ankle sprains are not met. Initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis is not met.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to May 15, 2019 and a rating in excess of 20 percent beginning May 15, 2019 and ending March 12, 2020, or a rating in excess of 40 percent beginning March 12, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bilateral hearing loss was denied as the VA examinations did not support a higher rating due to functional impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The decision is based on evidence showing noise exposure during service and continuity of symptoms since then.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition due to new and material evidence. The claims for tinnitus, hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and personality disorder) are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of established disability at this time, as two VA examinations could not obtain reliable data.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 19, 2013. Therefore, the claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and residuals of frostbite due to incomplete compliance with previous remand instructions regarding obtaining VA treatment records from specific facilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have made it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since February 18, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as he is currently employed in a meaningful capacity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic lumbar spine, right and left knee disabilities, and bilateral wrist carpal tunnel syndrome have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during or prior to the appeal period.,Service connection has also been granted for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran is seeking service connection for this condition, which he claims was caused by acoustic trauma in service.

The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disability, right knee disability, right hip disability, low back disability, and hypertension are all remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the issue of secondary service connection for a bilateral ankle disability to include as secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and headaches.,The Veteran was not shown to have current disabilities for these conditions as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations and service connection was partially granted, with some issues being remanded. The Veteran is now entitled to service connection for ischemic heart disease, type II diabetes mellitus, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy due to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus. However, the initial evaluations for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and right thumb fracture remain unchanged.