Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions. The claims for service connection are not decided at this time.

The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disability, and migraine headaches have been granted.,The claims for service connection for gynecological disorders, left ankle pain, right ankle pain, and shortness of breath to include as due to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness resulting from service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War are remanded. The claim for service connection for chest pain is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete records. The issues of service connection for various disabilities, including a cervical spine disability, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss disability, will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus do not meet the criteria for service connection. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if there is a relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The decisions on these issues are pending.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal as to all issues except for the acquired psychiatric disorder, which was remanded.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for several conditions, and the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal disability, bilateral elbow injury residuals, right wrist and hand injury residuals, head injury residuals, and hearing loss in the right ear due to incomplete service treatment records and insufficient evidence of a relationship between his current disabilities and service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, type 2 diabetes mellitus, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, sleep disorder (obstructive sleep apnea), acquired psychiatric disorders (PTSD, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder), right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative joint disease, right hip degenerative joint disease, left hip degenerative joint disease, right foot degenerative joint disease, and hypertension.,The Board found no evidence of in-service noise exposure for hearing loss or Agent Orange exposure for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's service records did not document Vietnam service.

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

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating available.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable (0 percent).,The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period from October 17, 2008, through February 7, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and possibly a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an adequate etiological opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of adequate VA examination, as well as potential missing non-VA medical records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain any pertinent private medical records and provide an adequate VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied, while his claim for tinnitus was granted.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's increased rating for bilateral hearing loss appeal has been withdrawn.,Service connection is granted for cervical spine degenerative arthritis, left knee arthritis, and right shoulder degenerative joint disease. Service connection is also remanded for left ankle arthritis and a bilateral foot condition.,Service connection is granted for left knee arthritis.,Service connection is granted for right shoulder degenerative joint disease.,Service connection is granted for left ankle arthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate development of records and need for a supplemental opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining medical records and providing an opinion on whether the Veteran's death was caused or contributed to by exposure to commercial pesticides at Fort Knox.