Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to insufficient evidence in some areas, particularly regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and right knee conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as he does not have a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for loss of vision is remanded and requires additional VA examination to determine if the condition is related to his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a significant threshold shift beyond normal measurement variability during service and concluding that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is not related to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for tinnitus have been withdrawn.,Claims of service connection for right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, bilateral hearing loss disability, diabetes mellitus, psychiatric disorder (to include depression), right foot pes planus and plantar fasciitis, left foot pes planus and plantar fasciitis, and bilateral eye disability (exotropia) have been dismissed due to lack of timely appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted service connection as they are considered to be directly related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not due to an in-service injury, incurrence, or disease. The audiometric test results show sensorineural hearing loss meeting VA criteria for disability, but there is no evidence of noise exposure during service and no intercurrent cause (work at Chrysler) to explain the hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and scheduling a VA knee conditions examination.

The Board has granted a 10% disability rating for the Veteran's right ankle scar, effective from February 24, 2020. The appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to lack of recent VA examination and missing private treatment records.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims of service connection for degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine, left knee disability, and left shoulder disability.,These issues are now being remanded to obtain additional evidence and opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran is seeking earlier effective dates for the award of a 40 percent disability rating for prostate cancer residuals and service connection for left ear hearing loss disability. The Board has determined that there was not a factually ascertainable worsening of the Veteran's symptoms within the one-year period prior to October 12, 2017, for the prostate cancer residuals.,The Veteran did not submit a claim for an increased rating for prostate cancer residuals until October 12, 2017. The effective date assigned by the RO is based on the date of receipt of the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing medical records and a need for an adequate VA examination. The Veteran's hearing loss claims are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, generalized anxiety disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim based on these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for revision of the April 2003 rating decision denying service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for SMC. The effective date claims are inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for insomnia disorder is granted. The Board finds that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the remaining issues, including a VA examination and review of relevant treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, with no functional impact on his ability to work. The Board found that the objective medical evidence supported this rating.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's left wrist disability. The issues of service connection for a left knee disability and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to incomplete or insufficient examination reports.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was aggravated by his service-connected otitis externa. The claim will be returned for further evaluation.

The Veteran's tinnitus and PTSD have been granted service connection.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss has been denied, as the preexisting condition did not worsen during service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to acoustic trauma sustained during active duty.