Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss of the left ear and PTSD, but remanded the issues of service connection for anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorder due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus in excess of 10 percent have been denied. The Veteran is already receiving the highest available schedular disability rating for both conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is insufficient medical nexus evidence to resolve the appeal. The case will be returned to VA for further evidentiary development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and kidney cancer due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The claims will be reconsidered with additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as 0 percent disabling. The Board finds that additional development is necessary due to the significant worsening of his symptoms since his last examination in October 2015, and he should be afforded a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and right leg circulation problems were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.,Claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, high blood pressure/hypertension, and heart attack/CAD were not reopened as there was no new and material evidence received.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board has found that there are no exceptional patterns of hearing impairment. The TBI claim was remanded due to insufficient evidence for a diagnosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a significant threshold shift in hearing from entrance to separation from active service and concluding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to his military noise exposure.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing impairment is related to his in-service noise exposure and resolving any doubt in his favor.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no probative medical evidence indicating that his current condition was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, left ear hearing loss, and cold weather injury residuals (hands). The Veteran's right knee condition is not related to his in-service fracture. His left ear hearing loss does not meet VA criteria for a disability. Cold weather injuries are suspected but need further examination.,The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, as well as cold weather injury residuals (hands).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral hip condition, and bilateral sciatic nerve condition due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his character of discharge claim due to inadequate medical opinions and missing VA treatment records. The Veteran is also required to be scheduled for a VA audiology examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current hearing impairment and military service. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish secondary service connection due to diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that no claim was filed prior to April 24, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable due to the severity of his hearing acuity levels, which do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of a bilateral achilles tendon disability is being remanded as there was no current diagnosis at his last examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of a stomach disability is being remanded due to lack of current diagnosis and possible secondary service connection.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of a blackout disability is being remanded due to incomplete VA examination results.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other claims that are also being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bilateral hearing loss, unspecified anxiety disorder, and pseudofolliculitis barbae disabilities is being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further action due to procedural issues and the need for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. A new VA examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to inadequate examination and failure to comply with duty to assist.