Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claim for additional development due to new information provided by the Veteran, including medical articles supporting his claims. An independent medical opinion is needed from a non-VA specialist in orthopedics.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss in his left ear is not related to service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded his claim for a rash condition of the back.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), hypertension, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction (secondary to an acquired psychiatric disability), left knee disability, and right hip disability. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, left eye disorder, and psychiatric disorder are denied. The reduction in the disability rating for his psychiatric disorder is also denied. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has not been shown to warrant a compensable rating prior to January 7, 2020, or in excess of 20 percent on and thereafter.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss. The housebound status issue is moot as a result.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss as it did not find a causal relationship between the condition and military service, nor did it manifest within one year of discharge.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records, specifically audiometric test results from February 12, 2016 and January 21, 2020. The case will be readjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions of CAD, PTSD, and hearing loss are being remanded for additional examinations to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are presumed to have been incurred in service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is reopened, but the issue of service connection remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and low back disorder. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for additional examination and analysis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete examinations and the need for additional medical records. The issues of service connection are being reviewed, as well as initial disability ratings.

The Board has found that the Veteran's notice of disagreement was timely received via facsimile on June 24, 2014. The appeal is now remanded for further development regarding whether new and material evidence was obtained to reopen service connection claims for various conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder with anxiety) has been granted. The Veteran was diagnosed with this condition during service and linked it to his combat exposure.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, flat feet, and erectile dysfunction. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and evaluation.

The claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, right knee condition (previously claimed as leg condition), hypertension, and right carpal tunnel syndrome were denied. The claim for service connection of the right ankle condition was remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate reasoning in the previous decisions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board found no evidence to warrant a higher rating based on his testimony and VA examinations.