Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service condition and no competent medical nexus linking the current disability to service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for right ear hearing loss, left knee and right knee disabilities, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, hypertension, and TDIU. The reasons include the need for additional VA examinations and treatment records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, resulting in a denial of this claim.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a disability rating of 20 percent prior to January 25, 2016 and denied entitlement to higher ratings thereafter. The claim for increased rating for bilateral chronic plantar keratosis is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, low back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, GAD, and MDD), and sleep disorder due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% and his bilateral hearing loss issue remains remanded. The Board has also determined that the left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, should be remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU prior to February 27, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss due to incomplete development and need for additional opinions.

The Veteran's requests to reopen claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, and open angle glaucoma with diabetic retinopathy and right eye blindness were granted. The issues of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and right eye blindness are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's claims regarding inadequate hearing protection in service and a metabolic etiology for his hearing loss. The RO is instructed to obtain records of annual hearing tests from the Veteran's post-service work as a mechanic.

The Board has dismissed all service connection and increased rating claims due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, and were not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's chest scar has been painful throughout the appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current diagnosis did not meet the criteria for a disability under VA standards and that there was no evidence of an increase in disability during service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of a current disability at the time of filing. The skin disorder claim is remanded as there are insufficient opinions regarding its relationship to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies in VA audiology examination results, and a new examination is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete clinical findings from a VA audiological evaluation on August 1, 2018. The claim for initial compensable evaluations and increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss is being returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, tinnitus, and denied service connection for residuals of wisdom teeth extraction, a back disability, headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and COPD. The claims for service connection were reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to inadequate rationale provided by the July 2016 VA examiner regarding the relationship between service exposure and current disabilities. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions based on in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the minimum percentage requirements for a TDIU, and his average impairment in earning capacity due to these conditions is adequately compensated by his current schedular rating.