Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder are remanded due to inadequate examinations and lack of consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder, low back, and neck disabilities, as well as the reopening of claims for seizure disorder (now claimed as residuals of brain surgery) and bilateral hearing loss disability. The AOJ is instructed to verify all periods of active duty training and inactive duty training, obtain the Veteran's service treatment records and personnel records, and provide a response if records are unavailable.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disorder due to inadequate examination and opinion.

The Veteran meets the schedular percentage requirements for TDIU due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which result in a combined rating of 60 percent. The Board finds that his service-connected disabilities prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for allergic rhinitis, fatigue, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to new evidence obtained after a previous denial. The hearing loss claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding no new and material evidence to support these claims.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or sinusitis, and therefore denied service connection for these conditions. The left ankle disability claim is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a contemporaneous VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that his pre-existing condition did not worsen during military service.

The appeal for service connection for a spinal cord lesion and bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed.,The appeals for service connection for hypertension and heart disability have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for hyperreflexia has been reopened.,The appeals for service connection for back disability, heart disability (presumably ischemic heart disease), and hyperreflexia are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examination opinions and incomplete medical records. The issues of bilateral hearing loss, deviated septum, sleep apnea, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right hip disability, neck disability, and low back disability are all being reviewed.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and sleep apnea have been granted service connection, with the latter being secondary to his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus, right knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury (TBI) residuals, and insomnia due to incomplete records from VA medical centers.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and for further action on PTSD rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, bilateral hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities are remanded due to a lack of a VA examination in some cases.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent, effective November 14, 2011.,An increased rating for the left ankle sprain prior to March 15, 2019, is denied. From March 15, 2019, a higher rating of 20 percent was granted.

The appeal for service connection for PTSD is dismissed. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for hearing loss and impingement syndrome, as well as TDIU, are remanded.