Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, finding that the Veteran did not have hearing loss incurred in or caused by his military service.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability needs to be re-evaluated due to recent testimony and the need for a VA examination without hearing aids.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection.,The Veteran's claim for a bilateral foot disability has been dismissed as the issue is no longer in dispute due to an October 2015 rating decision granting service connection for tinea pedis of the bilateral feet (also claimed as jungle rot of the feet and legs).,The Veteran's claim for a bilateral knee disorder remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's death was related to service, specifically an in-service motor vehicle accident that caused a head injury and lacerations. The Board is remanding the case for further development regarding whether the USS Pine Island operated within Vietnam's territorial sea during the Veteran's service aboard the ship.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examination and opinion. A new examination is needed that adequately addresses the likely etiology of the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss and considers his contentions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection, but his cervical spine disability is denied.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn by the Veteran's representative, and thus the issue is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for allergies, pericarditis, and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical opinions and need for additional evidence. The Veteran is requested to provide service treatment records and VA/Non-VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate VA examination, lack of updated treatment records, and need for a new VA audiological examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 30 percent, but no more. The claims for service connection of vertigo and a respiratory disability are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disability, lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis, GERD, chest pain secondary to GERD, and bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection is also granted for the Veteran's tinnitus. The Board found that while there was no specific diagnosis of tinnitus in his records, he provided credible testimony regarding its occurrence during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU. The issues regarding PTSD are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his claims of service connection for left and right wrist CTS. The Board finds the March 2015 VA examination inadequate as it did not address the Veteran's lay statements about symptoms during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral lower extremity neuropathy and left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, result in a loss of use of both lower extremities that precludes locomotion without the aid of an assistive device such as a walker, cane, or wheelchair. As a result, he is eligible for financial assistance for specially adapted housing.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of left ear hearing loss and right ear hearing loss for further examination and opinion. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss may need a new medical opinion regarding its relation to in-service noise exposure, while his right ear hearing loss requires a new VA examination.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent disabling, and the Board finds no evidence of a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The hearing loss rating has also been remanded.