Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied. The Veteran also appealed the initial rating assigned for his right wrist disability, which had previously been granted but is now being reconsidered.,The Veteran’s right wrist disability remains at a 10 percent rating due to painful motion with some limitation.

The Board has remanded the claims for hearing loss, PTSD, left ankle scars, Achilles tendonitis, lumbar degenerative disc disease, and headaches due to incomplete examinations. The Veteran's service connection claims are being reviewed again.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence and further examination.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus can be adjudicated. The Veteran's National Guard records need to be verified, and a VA examination is required to determine if his hearing loss and otosclerosis are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they require additional clarification from an audiologist regarding the relationship between his service-connected noise exposure and current hearing conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of recent VA treatment records and an examination report from March 2020. The Veteran needs these documents to support his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus on a presumptive basis due to noise exposure in service. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded as additional development is needed.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left ear hearing loss is remanded due to the lack of audiograms from VA audiometric evaluations conducted in November 2005 and March 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and coronary artery disease (CAD) require further development due to incomplete records. The appeal is remanded for additional development.

Service connection for PTSD is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.,Service connection for a dental disorder for compensation purposes is remanded.,Service connection for a dental disorder for treatment purposes is remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the omission of his right foot sesamoiditis from the rating decision. Additional development is needed to assess its impact on his employment capacity before a final determination can be made.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a disease/injury related to service. The current hearing loss disability is not shown to have had its onset during service and is not otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the reliability of a medical opinion based on an IOM report regarding delayed onset of hearing loss after noise exposure. The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being reviewed again.

The Veteran's claim for service connection under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for impingement right shoulder with secondary bursitis and supraspinatus tear was denied, as the evidence did not show that the complications were due to VA carelessness or negligence. The claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss disability prior to January 8, 2019 was also denied.

The Veteran's initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss were denied, and the claims for neck, right knee, and left knee disabilities are being remanded.,Higher initial ratings for service-connected bilateral hearing loss have been denied prior to September 13, 2018. From September 13, 2018 to December 10, 2019, the Veteran's disability was rated at 10 percent and from December 10, 2019 onwards at 30 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder with anxiety is found to be the proximate cause of his current coronary artery disease (CAD). The Board has granted service connection for CAD as secondary to this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a respiratory disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for right ear hearing loss due to noise exposure during periods of active duty. The status post-operative gunshot wound in the left forearm is granted as aggravated by reserve service.

The Board has granted service connection for right-ear hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder) based on in-service noise exposure and reported combat experiences.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete service treatment records and outstanding private medical records. The Veteran is also scheduled for VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.