Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss as there is a need for further development and examination.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and right ear hearing loss, but granted reopening of the claim for right ear hearing loss. Service connection for tinnitus was also denied.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is being remanded to determine if it meets VA criteria and whether there is a nexus between his current disability and military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the specific conditions and their relationship to military service are not specified in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The Board is remanding these issues for further development.,The Veteran's heart condition claim remains unresolved as there is no current diagnosis provided by a VA examiner.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing disability and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a 30 percent rating for tension/cluster headaches is granted. The claims of service connection for incontinence, prolapsed bladder, and vertigo are denied. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus have been denied.,The effective dates for the grants of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have also been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful activity prior to November 15, 2011.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inconsistencies in her account of an alleged military sexual trauma (MST) and a lack of corroborating evidence. The VA will conduct further examinations and provide medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and hepatitis C.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his back disability, were not incurred during service or due to an in-service injury. His hearing loss was also denied.,Service connection for a left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,Service connection is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise and resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate previous examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The application to reopen his claim of service connection for PTSD with insomnia is granted, and the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD with insomnia is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 2, 2019 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter is denied. The Board found that the disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating before October 2, 2019 or in excess of 20 percent after that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the specific disabilities and issues are not fully specified in this decision. The Board has reopened his claims for thoracic spine disability, left knee disability, left elbow disability, left foot disability, bilateral hearing loss, and cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that an increased rating beyond this level is not warranted based on the evidence of record.,The Veteran's right fractured foot residuals are currently rated as noncompensable. The Board has determined that additional examination or development may be necessary to determine if a compensable rating is warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 1, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing is granted due to her service-connected disabilities resulting in the loss of use of both lower extremities, requiring regular and constant use of leg braces.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to the need for additional evidence, including private treatment records.