Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability due to duty to assist errors. The Veteran's reports about his symptoms in-service and post-service will be considered, along with any medical opinion provided.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for syphilis and arthritis are reopened, but the Board has remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and low back disability due to insufficient evidence in some cases. The Veteran will need new VA examinations to determine the presence of these conditions and their etiology.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the spine, left hip condition, right hip condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than unspecified depressive disorder), and sleep apnea due to new evidence or clarification.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is denied as not incurred during service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and left ankle sprain and instability have been granted service connection. The Veteran is also entitled to a higher disability rating for his left ankle condition from May 10, 2018 onwards. However, the initial compensable disability ratings for both conditions are pending further development.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to April 30, 2017 is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of current hearing loss for VA purposes.,Service connection for a hip condition is denied due to lack of competent and credible evidence showing the existence of such a disability.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to incomplete records. The RO is instructed to attempt to obtain missing documents from the October 2017 DPRIS response and associate them with the claims file.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing disability and his military service. The Board noted that his entrance and separation examinations showed normal hearing, and he did not report any ear trouble or hearing loss in his medical history reports.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, major depressive disorder, shoulder disorders, elbow disorders, wrist disorders, low back disorders, right ankle disorders, and left foot disorders. The appeal is not about service connection at all in some cases.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's son, J.T., is seeking recognition as the 'helpless child' based on his permanent incapacity for self-support prior to reaching age 18. The Board has ordered a remand due to insufficient evidence regarding J.T.'s ability to support himself before turning 18.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current hearing impairment and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as skin rash in the groin area, all claimed due to Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran's hearing loss was also denied.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear sensorineural hearing loss and ischemic heart disease, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to military noise exposure and herbicide agent exposure, respectively.,Service connection was established based on presumptive service connection due to exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether her hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma. As a result of resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, she is now entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate April 2014 VA examination for bilateral hearing loss, and a need for another examination to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of whether a TDIU should be granted on an extraschedular basis prior to March 7, 2008.