Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for antisocial personality disorder, major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, and rating for bilateral flat feet due to incomplete development. The claim for service connection for antisocial personality disorder is denied as it is a congenital or developmental defect.

The Board has decided to remand three issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims for lower back strain, hearing loss, and perforation of the right tympanic membrane. The decision is based on the need for additional VA treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding the low back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU prior to February 24, 2014, or due solely to a single service-connected disability from February 24, 2014, to January 9, 2017, and after March 1, 2018.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted his withdrawal of appeal regarding tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions had their onset during military service.,Service connection was also granted for diverticulosis with recurrent diverticulitis. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination and consideration of extraschedular criteria.

Your appeal for a higher initial rating for hearing loss has been dismissed as the Board's April 2019 decision already denied such a rating. The issue is moot because you withdrew your appeal for hypertension and continue to pursue service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for a psychiatric disability and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not service connected as it did not manifest during service or within one year of discharge.,The Veteran's hypertension is not service connected as there is no evidence that it began during service or is related to any in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of congestion.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a skin condition. Bilateral hearing loss is attributed to military noise exposure during active duty. Tinnitus began in-service and continues today. The skin condition is presumed to have developed due to Gulf War service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee strain, left ankle sprain, tinea pedis, hearing loss, and dry eye syndrome. The AOJ must consider new evidence before making a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of bilateral hearing loss and cellulitis of the bilateral lower extremities including feet are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his service-connected left tibia fracture prior to June 27, 2019; and from that date onward was denied. The Board found no evidence of marked knee or ankle disability warranting a higher rating.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied as the Veteran's preexisting hearing loss did not worsen during service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that his hearing acuity warranted a higher disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss likely began during his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss due to its not fully reflecting the severity in daily life.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating and thus denying the claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The case will be remanded for a VA audiological examination and readjudication.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's exposure to noise during active duty service is sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his current conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an ulcer has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The Board has remanded several issues including left shoulder, right wrist and right-hand disabilities, lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, residuals of fractured ribs, bilateral hearing loss, gastritis, hemorrhoids, and migraine headaches for further development.