Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims, including a review of the propriety of the reduction in disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, including noise exposure. Additional medical records and an updated opinion are needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear private audiometric testing and a need for additional VA and private treatment records. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is still pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was previously denied for ratings in excess of 10 percent prior to April 17, 2018 and in excess of 50 percent beginning April 17, 2018.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded due to insufficient opinions regarding its etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, but the issues of service connection for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right knee disorder, and a left knee disorder. The case is now being remanded to obtain additional evidence and conduct further examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is at least in equipoise with his in-service noise exposure. The claim for VA compensation under §1151 for gout and hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence showing causation.,VA compensation under §1151 for gout and hearing loss was denied as there was no evidence showing that the Veteran's disability was caused by carelessness, negligence, or error in judgment on VA's part.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition. The Board has also remanded for further examination to determine if any back or knee disorders are related to service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right foot disability are not service-connected. The case is being sent back for further examination and analysis.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, a right shoulder disorder, and PTSD. However, additional development is required as VA examiners have not provided opinions on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to insufficient examination and incomplete record retrieval.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) because the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the preexistence and aggravation of hearing loss disability during service, and for a determination on whether tinnitus is related to active service.

The Board denied a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's disability level did not meet criteria for higher ratings based on the audiometric evaluation results.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as the evidence shows he can secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not related to his service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for all issues related to bilateral hearing loss as the appellant has withdrawn his claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and TDIU due to outstanding VA records and the need for updated examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss prior to June 20, 2019, and a rating higher than 10 percent thereafter has been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of all issues on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee arthroplasty, secondary to his service-connected right knee disability and remanded the cases for further development regarding a rating increase for depression and anxiety associated with his right knee disability, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus.