Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active service, with the Board resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.,The Veteran's migraines and skin disorder are remanded for further development as a VA examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss due to a duty-to-assist error and new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of a causal link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to missing records from his 1974 and 1975 claims, which may establish that a prior denial was not final.

The Board has denied service connection for a lumbar strain (lumbar spine disability) and right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease (CAD) and type 2 diabetes are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding herbicide exposure.,The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's claim for coronary artery disease (CAD) and type 2 diabetes is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to in-service acoustic trauma. The claim was reopened due to new and material evidence submitted after the original denial.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and degenerative changes in the right foot joints are granted as service-connected.,Service connection is also granted for a left foot disability, but the issue of back disability remains pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be reviewed again with additional development and consideration of the Veteran's lay statements.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and skin cancer due to a lack of VA examinations, and requests that he undergo such exams. The Veteran contends his conditions are related to service exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left thumb disability. The decision found that there was no current hearing loss disability as defined by VA standards, and that the Veteran's painful motion did not warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5228.

The Veteran's bilateral lattice degeneration and bilateral atrophic breaks are related to his active duty service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The other issues on appeal have been remanded for further development.

The appeal seeking service connection for a right eye condition has been dismissed.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the Veteran's current hearing loss did not begin during or within one year after service and there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, dermatophytosis (brittle nails), and a skin disorder (chloracne). The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and major depressive disorder) and stroke residuals. TDIU is inextricably intertwined with these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease as due to herbicide agent exposure. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic kidney disease are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as it is inferred from his increased rating claim and he currently has unemployability due to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to March 17, 2016.

The Board has denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for a left middle finger disability and bilateral hearing loss. The denial of the left middle finger disability claim is due to lack of new and material evidence, while the grant of the bilateral hearing loss claim is based on newly received medical evidence linking it to active duty noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder), obstructive sleep apnea, a lumbar spine disorder, right lower extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder are all being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Veteran has not been diagnosed with bilateral upper extremity neuropathy or any other condition related to his service. His claims for hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, sleep apnea, TBI, lumbar spine disorder, lower extremity conditions, and knee disorders are being remanded as well.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment for the period of January 12, 2012 to August 9, 2012.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected, and his diabetes mellitus type 2 is granted on a presumptive basis due to Agent Orange exposure. The right ear hearing loss claim is remanded for further evaluation.