Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic retinopathy has been reopened and granted. The Veteran is also granted a rating of 50 percent for PTSD, but denied higher ratings for other conditions.

The Board has 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 and concluding that the Veteran did not have hearing loss within one year of separation from service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability, right ear hearing loss, and TDIU prior to June 6, 2019 due to incomplete VA outpatient treatment records from the San Juan VAMC. The Veteran's complete VA outpatient treatment records dated since his separation from active service, including any records from the San Juan VAMC, should be obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to in-service noise exposure. The Board also found that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is related to his active duty service.,Service connection was granted for a left shoulder disability, including pinched nerve, supraspinatus tear, and osteoarthritis, based on the Veteran's report of carrying heavy packs during military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss is not related to his in-service noise exposure and did not manifest within one year of separation from active duty.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and VistA images. The Veteran will need new VA examinations for his mesangiopathic glomerulopathy, bilateral knee disabilities, and thoracic spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and service connection for bilateral hearing loss, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and upper extremities, and diabetes mellitus were denied. The Veteran was awarded a 50% rating for his migraine headaches effective May 8, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to July 15, 2016 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter is remanded due to inconsistencies in the December 2019 VA examination results.

The Board has granted reconsideration of the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), 'general joint pain,' a 'muscular condition (unspecified muscle),' and a 'nerve condition (unspecified nerve).'

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to December 31, 2015, for the award of a 10 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus have been denied.,There is no evidence of earlier pending claims or factually ascertainable increases in disability during the year preceding the December 31, 2015 claim.

The Veteran withdrew all remaining issues associated with his appeal, leading to the dismissal of the case.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection. The case is REMANDED for further action.

The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is dismissed. The appeal for a respiratory disorder due to asbestos exposure and asthma, as well as sleep apnea with limb movements, remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disability, including sleep apnea and related to PTSD, was denied.,Service connection was granted for the skin disability of tinea versicolor. The condition was presumed to have been aggravated by service.,The Veteran's hypertension was not found to be related to service or exposure to herbicide agents.,Bilateral hearing loss was not established as a service-connected disability.,No service connection was granted for bilateral shoulder disability, back disability, or neck disability.,Service connection was denied for the Veteran's back and neck disabilities.,The decision also referred the issue of service connection for cardiovascular disease secondary to PTSD to the Regional Office (RO) for further adjudication.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected, but his tinnitus is denied.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss as there is no evidence of current disability in the left ear.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for lumbar spine condition, and service connection for bilateral shoulder condition due to new evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and pulmonary sarcoidosis, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to service.

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

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate VA medical opinions.