Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development. The initial rating for his left ankle disability remains denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the previous remand directives regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is being returned to the RO for a new VA examination and opinion.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to November 19, 2020, finding that his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left hip condition has been reopened. The claim for hearing loss and tinnitus remains denied.,Service connection was denied for the back and right hip conditions due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not establish a link between his current conditions and service. The Board found that diabetes was first diagnosed after separation from service, and peripheral neuropathy is not related to service or any incident therein.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The case is returned for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining employment consistent with his occupational and vocational experience prior to June 13, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of a rating in excess of 20 percent for a right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and recurrent tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a new VA examination. The matter is also referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The appeal for service connection of the Veteran's left knee disability has been dismissed as it was granted in full.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

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

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is remanded due to the lack of recent VA examination and treatment records, as well as an audio malfunction during his Board hearing.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of compliance with previous remand instructions and the need for additional VA examination and records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete audiometric examination results and requests for clarification from a private audiologist. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic disability in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have continuity of symptomatology and that his current diagnosis was not related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has determined that a compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is not warranted. The Veteran's appeal regarding the establishment of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD and other specified and stressor-related disorder (formerly diagnosed as Major Depressive Disorder, NOS) is remanded due to insufficient nexus opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies in the Appellant's service personnel records, and requests that additional information be obtained regarding his periods of active duty for training or inactive duty for training. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion on whether the bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his active duty for training and/or other Federal service (and specifically excluding inactive service and other non-Federal service).

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to a total disability based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to lack of substantial compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, but further examination is needed to determine if an extraschedular TDIU is warranted.