Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the sufficiency of the VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and its relation to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his current diagnosed bilateral hearing loss, which he claims was caused by noise exposure during military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, status post arthroscopic surgery. The decision is based on evidence showing that his current condition is at least as likely as not related to in-service injuries.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence meeting the criteria for a disability. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability is remanded as there are outstanding records and an opinion is needed regarding the etiology of his condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding audiometric testing and a VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral hip disabilities. The issues of increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, left hip enthesopathy, and right hip enthesopathy are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to a failure to consider lay statements regarding symptoms during service.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and respiratory disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence.,New claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol use dependence), heart disability (claimed as ischemic heart disease and/or residuals of stroke), hypertension, and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for left ear hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not show that his hearing loss has worsened since the last examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for alcohol dependence secondary to PTSD is remanded as an etiology opinion is needed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and memory loss. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection for various disabilities including bilateral knee and lower back conditions, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and memory loss), and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's acid reflux disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD or medication for any service-connected disabilities. His PFB rating remains at 10 percent, and the earlier effective date claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no competent evidence linking his current hearing loss to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a skin disability are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ear hearing loss, left knee strain, and right knee strain have all been denied. The evidence does not support the assignment of any higher evaluations.

The Board dismissed the appeals for reopening service connection for various conditions as well as a rating in excess of 10 percent for painful scars of the feet, due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these issues prior to the issuance of a decision.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is denied as the evidence does not show symptoms that warrant an increased rating.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is denied as there are no manifestations of severe, debilitating ringing of the ears to support a higher rating.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because the medical evidence does not establish a current diagnosis of hearing loss for VA purposes.,Service connection for tuberculosis (TB) is denied due to lack of a current diagnosis and absence of evidence showing active TB during service or post-service.,Service connection for gastrointestinal (GI) disorder is denied as there is no established link between the Veteran's upset stomach in service and his current GERD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of the claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence does not establish a current disability or an in-service event, injury, or disease.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to obtain a VA opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed chronic respiratory disorder, including emphysema and COPD. The decision on service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right-knee disorder and service connection for left-ear hearing loss due to inadequate examinations conducted by VA. The Veteran will only pursue his appeal for a higher rating for right-knee disorder from January 1, 2012 and for service connection for left-ear hearing loss only.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no nexus between his current hearing loss and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, emphysema, and a skin disability due to herbicide exposure are remanded. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the current level of hearing impairment does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes in either ear and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The psychiatric claim is remanded as the evidence of record is insufficient to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to service.