Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examination and failure to address all directives. An addendum opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left hip disorder, and right hip disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and increased ratings for lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide the Veteran with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The effective date for tinnitus service connection is denied as there was no prior claim on a standard form prescribed by the Secretary. A rating of 70 percent for recurrent major depressive disorder with alcohol/drug use disorder from October 6, 2015 but not earlier is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The left ear hearing loss and right ear hearing loss claims are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and missing service treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be reviewed again with additional evidence and a new opinion from an examiner.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if service connection can be granted for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and a back disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss as there is no current disability in his right ear, based on audiometric testing that does not meet VA criteria for a hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral wrist disorder and lumbar spine disorder are remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and its relationship to service-connected conditions.

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

The Board has reopened several service connection claims but denied them based on the lack of new and material evidence. The claims for tinnitus, hearing loss disability, rash, back of neck and face, limitation of flexion of the knees, left knee pain, right knee pain, lower back injury (claimed as back conditions), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and headaches have been reopened but remain denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for right elbow condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, as he has retired and does not have evidence showing his inability to work due to these conditions.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with auditory acuity no worse than Level II. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of adequate examination and consideration of all relevant evidence. The appellant's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are granted, but his bilateral hearing loss claim is sent back for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not manifest in service or within one year after separation and is not otherwise related to service.