Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinions. The Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss is being reviewed again for a more detailed opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder is denied due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of hearing loss disability within one year post-service.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a right ankle sprain is denied as the Veteran's symptoms do not meet criteria for such an increase.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for asthma is denied due to lack of findings meeting specific pulmonary function criteria.,Pension purposes are granted with a permanent and total disability rating based on multiple medical conditions rendering the Veteran unemployable.,Service connection claims for pharyngitis, gastroenteritis/gastritis, migraines, residuals of facial injury, GERD, bronchitis, tendonitis, right foot disability, residuals of infections, shin splints, mononucleosis, neurological disorder, conjunctivitis, primary anemia, and acquired psychiatric disability are all remanded for further review.,The Veteran's service connection claims for these conditions will be reviewed again based on new evidence or clarification.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and service, despite his assertions. The VA examiner found that the current diagnoses are not related to service.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with previous remand directives and requires an addendum medical advisory opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting further examinations to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss and migraine headaches are related to his service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to service, including noise exposure. The other issues of service connection have been denied.

The appeal to accept the October 2015 notice of disagreement as timely is granted.,New and material evidence has been added to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right-sided numbness with temporary memory loss, pneumonia, post nasal fracture, and left wrist disability.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and central processing disorder for further development, including obtaining addendum opinions from VA examiners to determine if these conditions are related to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for postoperative residuals from excision of a fibroma of the right foot was denied, as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied due to no functional impact.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as earlier effective dates for those service-connected disabilities, has been withdrawn. The claims for right ear hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and coronary artery disease have been reopened due to new evidence received since the final denial of these claims. Service connection is granted for these conditions based on herbicide agent exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to military service, including exposure to contaminated water or herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development due to a failure to substantially comply with the Board's previous remand instructions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss disability, finding that it is etiologically related to his conceded hazardous noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to November 4, 2016, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating prior to November 4, 2016, or a rating in excess of 50 percent from that date.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by or a result of noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's right ankle disorder is granted service connection. Service connection for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss are denied, but GERD remains at a non-compensable rating.

The Board has decided that the Veteran did not have a hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes during his lifetime, and thus denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board also found insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran had a headache disability related to service, and therefore remanded this issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors, requiring VA examinations to address whether his current eye disability, osteoarthritis of the knees, and hearing loss are related to service.