Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear neuroma with hearing loss is granted, as new and material evidence has been received. The Board finds the evidence in equipoise regarding whether the condition is related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between his active duty service and the conditions. The Board found that the Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to reopen his claim for bilateral hearing loss disability, and his claim for psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) was denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of one automobile or other conveyance and/or automobile adaptive equipment due to issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including right knee disability, lumbosacral radiculitis, and bilateral high frequency sensorineural hearing loss. The decision is pending further development.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted, with an effective date of August 15, 2012. The Board found that the Veteran had continuous symptoms since discharge from service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has worsened since his 2018 examinations, and a new VA audiology examination is needed to assess the current state of his condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for high blood pressure has been remanded.

The Board has dismissed all issues of entitlement to service connection or disability ratings for various conditions as the appellant withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for a right elbow disability, bilateral foot disability, and left ear hearing loss due to lack of competent evidence showing current disabilities.,No VA examination was conducted in this case as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it, but denied the underlying claim as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss disability and his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for an extraschedular determination based on his service-connected disabilities and unemployability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss are also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss, specifically whether it is a congenital defect or disease and if it was aggravated by service.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus and erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD.,Left ear hearing loss has not been shown during the appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability at separation and insufficient evidence linking any current hearing loss to service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives, specifically regarding a new medical opinion from the VA otolaryngologist who provided an earlier opinion. The case is now back for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has worsened since his last VA examination in April 2016, and a new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left hip condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition. The lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease issue is also being remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied both claims as there is no evidence that his current conditions are related to his active duty service.