Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tinea pedis, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The RO is to obtain private treatment records from Dr. Seiglman, schedule a VA examination for his bilateral hearing loss, determine if his diabetes mellitus is related to Camp Lejeune exposure, and conduct another VA examination to assess any acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as it did not meet the criteria of being causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from active duty.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was initially rated as noncompensable prior to February 19, 2018. From that date until September 3, 2018, he received a rating of 20 percent.,After the increase in rating from 20 percent on September 4, 2018, his hearing loss was rated as greater than 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, to include DDD and DJD is granted. The appeal for increased ratings for heart disability, urinary leakage, erectile dysfunction, and scar associated with prostatectomy is dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded. A rating greater than 10 percent for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, postoperative residuals, stomach injury is also remanded.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to service connection for heart condition and hearing loss, as well as initial disability ratings and effective dates for unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder and frostbite residuals of the Veteran's bilateral upper and lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left wrist tendonitis, left thigh weakness and atrophy, right thigh weakness and atrophy, and bilateral hearing loss due to outstanding private treatment records and a need for new medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, anemia with bleeding ulcers, and PTSD. The Veteran's claims were not supported by medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's service connection and rating appeals, as well as his request for TDIU. The appeal is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a bilateral hearing loss disability has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU based on his service-connected mental disabilities, finding that apart from these conditions, he could still perform substantially gainful employment. The other service-connected conditions did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's dental condition was granted service connection as it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected myofascial pain syndrome dysfunction.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and trace nuclear sclerosis of the bilateral eye lenses were denied due to lack of current disability.

The Veteran's hearing loss in his left ear is rated at 10 percent. The Board has ordered further development to determine the current severity of both ears and whether he qualifies for extraschedular consideration.

The Board dismissed the appeals for hearing loss, jaw disability, and dental disability as they are no longer relevant due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities and is also granted special monthly compensation for aid and attendance.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are more likely than not related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus should be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current disabilities and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for a new VA opinion to address changes in the Veteran's audiometric data and his contention of deliberate reporting during separation.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for right ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss due to potential conflicts in medical evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's left knee disorder, right foot onychomycosis, and service-connected coronary artery disease were granted. The issues of service connection for arteriosclerosis, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral eye disorder, bilateral hip disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, cervical disorder, headache disorder, low back disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, vertigo, dental disorder, obesity, and left foot onychomycosis are dismissed.