Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of a disability for VA purposes.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not demonstrate marked interference with employment or frequent hospitalization due to his condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and a lumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the etiology of his disabilities, particularly related to military noise exposure. The Veteran is also being asked to provide VA audiological and orthopedic examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions and need for additional evidence. The issues include hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, foot disabilities (callouses and bunions), right hip disability, and left knee disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of hepatitis C service connection due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The hearing loss case is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hearing loss disability is related to his period of active duty service, including in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 80 percent disabling from February 8, 2010 to August 19, 2015. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating during this period.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 28, 2020 was denied as the evidence did not show that his hearing impairment met or approximated the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss prior to October 27, 2020 and bilateral hearing loss thereafter is denied.

Service connection for craniocervical arteriovenous fistula is granted. A rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and a compensable rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease prior to April 20, 2015, and a rating in excess of 20 percent thereafter are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The claim of service connection for a right knee disorder is granted, while the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also granted. The Veteran's current right knee condition is found to be related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding whether delayed onset bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure. The examiner must provide a rationale for their conclusion based on the IOM study.

Service connection for migraine headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and Sjogren’s syndrome is denied.,An earlier effective date of May 31, 2005 for the grant of service connection for back disability is granted. A rating in excess of 20 percent for back disability remains denied.,Ratings in excess of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are denied from August 15, 2016 to February 6, 2020. Ratings of 40 percent, but no higher, are granted beginning February 7, 2020.,Service connection for tinnitus is not granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right foot condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of service connection for bilateral knee, hip, and shoulder conditions have been remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability as there was no medical nexus between in-service noise exposure and current diagnosis, nor did the Veteran have a diagnosis within one year of separation from service or continuity of symptomology.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, atrial fibrillation (claimed as a heart condition), and speech impairment secondary to atrial fibrillation due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature of the Veteran's disabilities and their relationship to service or herbicide exposure. The Veteran needs updated VA examinations and an etiology opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. Specifically, a VA examination is needed to determine if hypertension clearly and unmistakably preexisted service, was aggravated by service, or is related to service. Additionally, a cardiologist's opinion on the current severity of the heart disability and its impact on employment is required.