Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma, bilateral hearing loss, and knee disabilities due to missing VA examinations. The Veteran was out of the country and scheduled for back surgery which caused him to miss the examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, ADD, PTSD, anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, primary insomnia, left knee strain, left shin splint, right knee strain, and right shin splint are all denied. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and headaches are all granted. The Board found that the Veteran's BHL disability is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate pre-decisional duty to assist errors in both left knee disability and bilateral hearing loss claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and allergic rhinitis have been rated as appropriate, but his peripheral neuropathy and hypertension due to Agent Orange exposure are not currently service connected.,The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and opinions are needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy and hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, specifically related to loud noise exposure during military service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to errors in obtaining relevant records and providing adequate opinions.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are granted, but the service connection for left ear hearing loss is remanded due to a lack of an addendum opinion addressing potential delayed-onset hearing loss.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore denied service connection. The pseudofolliculitis barbae claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for anemia, coronary artery disease, and tinnitus have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to in-service cold weather exposure.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot condition, right leg condition, and left leg condition have been remanded as there are no opinions on whether these conditions may be related to cold weather exposure during service.

The Board has reopened the service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and bilateral knee disorders due to new evidence received after a previous denial. However, the claims are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The cases for bilateral hearing loss and psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected. The lower back, lacerations of the back, left foot, and left knee disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for further analysis regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as a result of exposure to noise during service. The rating for hemorrhoids is increased to 10 percent, effective from February 18, 2019. The acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depression, anxiety) is rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD, cervical spine disability, left foot disability, and other service-connected conditions are all rated at the highest possible level (70%), but his claims for low back disability, radiculopathy of the right leg, bilateral hearing loss, carpal tunnel syndromes, and elbow/thumb disabilities have been denied.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus developed as a result of service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and bilateral hearing loss due to the lack of VA examinations prior to adjudication.