Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's lower back disability is being remanded for further development.,A 10% rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss from February 21, 2019, is granted. The appeal regarding the initial compensable rating prior to that date remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in the prior VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not show that his hearing acuity warrants such a rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left hip disability, groin muscle disability, left shoulder disability, and obstructive sleep apnea. The evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss claim is denied as it did not manifest in service and is otherwise not related to his in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability prior to November 5, 2020, was found to have limited forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 80 degrees with a combined ROM of 220 degrees, without ankylosis or other disabling conditions. Since then, there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis. The Veteran's right shoulder disability claim remains pending as it was granted in a separate decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII), and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service. The examiner needs to consider the Veteran's reports of noise exposure during service and provide an opinion on causation.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bilateral hearing loss was denied because he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without providing good cause.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of right ear hearing loss and sleep apnea due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further development due to outstanding VA medical records at the Wilmington, Delaware VAMC. The Veteran is entitled to an effective date earlier than August 30, 2016 for left ear hearing loss and service connection for right ear hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as a nervous condition), sleep apnea, and eye disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including a right leg disorder, bilateral shoulder disorders, back disorder, bilateral hip disorders, bilateral hearing loss, heart disorder, erectile dysfunction, and headache disorder. The appeals are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's representative requested to withdraw all issues on appeal, leading to the dismissal of the claims for service connection for hearing loss in both ears and erectile dysfunction.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure causing current hearing loss and that any potential hearing loss did not manifest within one year after discharge.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate examination and a need for further consideration of the Veteran's hearing loss claim, including review of his service records.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and PTSD due to new evidence and procedural issues.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted a 20 percent rating from August 16, 2017. The previous ratings of noncompensable prior to May 31, 2011 and 10 percent from May 31, 2011 to August 15, 2017 were denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The appeal of this issue is remanded, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if his current hearing loss disability was aggravated by spinal meningitis during service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted service connection.,An effective date of May 3, 2011 for bilateral pes planus is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing VA treatment records from the Veteran's claims file, specifically audiologic data from audiograms dated on August 29, 2017 and July 16, 2018. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left testicular condition, left elbow condition, and left ankle condition is denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is also remanded.