Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his bilateral hearing loss and lower back disability claims.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen service connection for a seizure disorder was granted, while appeals for other conditions were denied. Service connection for the previously claimed conditions is not established.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's in-service noise exposure resulted in delayed onset hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an audiogram and for obtaining updated VA treatment records. An addendum opinion is needed from an audiologist regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, including its relation to service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the October 2018 remand instructions and thus, the matters must be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and bilateral hearing loss. The case will be remanded to allow for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete development. The Veteran contends that his hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure in service.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 21, 2004 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's combined disability rating was at least 70 percent since July 21, 2004.

Service connection is granted for Major Depressive Disorder, OSA, CAD, and Hypertension as secondary to service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.,The Veteran's low back disability, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, sinusitis, and thyroid disease are not currently service connected.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (vertigo, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus) do not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board denied the TDIU rating as his disabilities are not severe enough to render him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, both claimed as secondary to service-connected mycosis fungoides. The remand requires an addendum opinion from the ENT examiner regarding whether the Veteran's hearing loss or tinnitus first manifested during active service or are causally related to his noise exposure during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's left wrist disability and gastrointestinal disability are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate private audiological examination, and requests clarification on whether the Maryland CNC speech discrimination test was used.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown to be related to service, as there were no significant threshold shifts in the first post-service year. Service connection for this condition is denied.,Memory loss was not shown to be related to exposure at Camp Lejeune, as there are no known delayed onset effects of solvent exposure and the Veteran's diagnosis dates back several years after his exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to potential outstanding treatment records not being associated with his case file. The claims are also remanded for another VA examination and medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting opinions and a need for additional medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions. The VA examinations did not provide sufficient rationale or consider all evidence of record, including the Veteran's reports of continuous hearing problems since discharge.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a right eye disability and headaches are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for sensorineural hearing loss of the left ear and bilateral hearing loss was denied. The decision found that there was not an exceptional pattern of hearing loss in either ear, resulting in noncompensable evaluations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.