Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a comprehensive and/or cognitive auditory dysfunction condition, finding insufficient evidence to establish current diagnoses or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right shoulder disorder are granted. The claim for hemorrhoids is dismissed. Service connection for a right shoulder disorder is reopened due to new evidence. A higher rating for low back strain with degenerative disc disease and mild levoscoliosis is granted. An effective date prior to January 17, 2014, for a 60 percent rating for acne is granted. The claim for bilateral hips condition is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further action on service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII) and rating of bilateral hearing loss due to potential exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has granted the motion to reverse on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in a June 1991 rating decision that denied service connection for hearing loss. Service connection is now awarded effective March 18, 1991.

Service connection is granted for left and right hip disorders.,Service connection is also granted for right ear hearing loss, presumed due to acoustic trauma during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma has been denied as there is no evidence showing the condition started during his service or is related to his service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and penile condition due to herbicide exposure have been remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD remains pending, with a need for new and material evidence. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD also has been remanded.

The Board has dismissed all the Veteran's claims as they are related to his death. The appeal is not about service connection, but rather the processing of his death benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service exposure to significant acoustic trauma while serving in combat in Vietnam.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sinusitis, and obstructive sleep apnea due to the need for additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss disability is manifested by no more than a hearing acuity of Level III for the right ear and a Level I for the left ear, resulting in an initial noncompensable rating. The Board finds that the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation have not been met.

The Veteran's hearing loss claim is denied, and his service connection for unexplained bleeding associated with exercise is remanded due to incomplete examination reports.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in previous decisions regarding herbicide agent exposure and service-connected PTSD. Further investigation is needed into these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for his tumor, left side of head, and left ear hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions were caused by or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claim for hearing loss is being remanded to obtain clarification on the speech discrimination test used in his November 2015 private examination and to request any additional private medical records from his provider.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss prior to June 15, 2021 and in excess of 50 percent thereafter. The Veteran's appeal was not withdrawn.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service noise exposure and giving him the benefit of the doubt.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, internal derangement of the ACL with degenerative arthritis of the right knee, and total right knee replacement are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.