Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his bilateral hearing loss and its effects, as well as for obtaining relevant treatment records from Los Angeles VA Medical Center.

The Veteran's appeals for effective dates prior to June 9, 2015, for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed as he requested withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The tunica vaginalis cyst of the left scrotum was granted, but the other conditions remain denied.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any bilateral hearing loss, including whether it is related to service or secondary to service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and low back disorder due to inadequate examinations. The decision on these issues is pending.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The appeal for service connection for onychomycosis, claimed as right foot dermatitis, is dismissed.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder claimed as PTSD, to include anxiety and depression are denied. The Veteran's hypertension claim has been remanded.,The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the right foot dermatitis issue in October 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's death was not caused by or contributed to by his service-connected PTSD, but the Board is unable to make a determination due to insufficient medical evidence.,If the VA examiner finds that PTSD aggravated coronary artery disease and led to hypertension and heart conditions resulting in death, they must provide an opinion on whether there is medical evidence prior to aggravation or at any time between the time of aggravation and the level of disability.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and therefore the claim for service connection for cause of death is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed left ear hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus are all remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's responses during a VA examination, requiring additional medical evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to reassess the severity of his service-connected disability, especially since it has worsened appreciably in 7 years.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for entitlement to a compensable evaluation for erectile dysfunction due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected left ear hearing loss. The Board will then consider whether an initial compensable rating should be granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and left thumb disability are denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection due to in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition and acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) are remanded for further evaluation.