Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected. The issue of service connection for tinnitus has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of hearing loss due to new evidence being added to his file. The issues include peripheral neuropathy, sleep apnea, and hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral metatarsalgia (claimed as bilateral pes planus). The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.,The Veteran's current hearing loss in both ears was not confirmed by the VA examiner, and a new opinion must be obtained addressing these concerns.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion and missing pre-surgery hearing loss data. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is being reviewed for potential additional disability caused by VA care.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and sleep apnea were granted. The claim for service connection for a low back disability was denied as the evidence did not establish that it began during his active military service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability was previously denied a compensable evaluation prior to February 28, 2018. The case is remanded for further development.,A non-compensable rating has been assigned for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability since February 28, 2018. The case is remanded for further development.,The Veteran's rectal fistula was previously denied a compensable evaluation prior to February 26, 2018. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate assistance in obtaining private treatment records and an additional VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during his active service.,The Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure during his active service. The Board finds that the Veteran has current diagnoses of hearing loss and tinnitus that had their onset during active service.,Service connection for COPD is remanded due to lack of verification of asbestos exposure, and a VA examination is necessary to determine if any currently diagnosed respiratory disability is related to service or asbestos exposure.,Service connection for a heart disability, to include coronary artery disease, is remanded. A VA examination is necessary to determine the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's heart disability, including whether it was caused by herbicide agent exposure during service.,The initial compensable disability rating for Dupuytren's contracture of the right little finger is remanded due to lack of verification of asbestos exposure, and a VA examination is necessary to determine if any currently diagnosed respiratory disability is related to service or asbestos exposure.,The initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for Dupuytren's contracture of the right index finger is remanded. A VA examination is necessary to determine the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's heart disability, including whether it was caused by herbicide agent exposure during service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable (0%) due to the severity of his hearing impairment not warranting a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service exposure, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted, but he does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating for his hearing loss. The Veteran is granted a 30 percent rating for migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including to verify in-service stressors and determine the nature and etiology of hearing loss, PTSD, anxiety, depressive disorder, and TMJ.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded for new examinations.

The Veteran's initial service connection for bilateral hearing loss at 0 percent disabling is upheld, but he contends his condition has worsened. The Board finds that a VA examination was not conducted due to the Veteran's unavailability and remands for another examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The Board found that the Veteran incurred these conditions during his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability and denied service connection for this condition. The cases of acquired psychiatric, cervical spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and traumatic brain injury are remanded due to incomplete or inadequate examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that he does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes and has not had one at any time during the pendency of the claim or recent to the filing of the claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, type II as a result of herbicide exposure are granted. The remaining issues (peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder, and bilateral hearing loss) are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran wishes to withdraw his appeal regarding the increased rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, which was previously granted to a 10% level.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is related to his in-service exposure to acoustic trauma. The other claims for service connection were withdrawn by the Veteran.