Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and left ear hearing loss claims. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that September 29, 2016 is the correct date for these grants.

The Veteran's tinnitus and hypertension are granted service connection. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer (due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune), left knee disability, and right knee disability are remanded.

The Veteran's initial increased rating for PTSD was denied. The reduction in the hearing loss rating from 70% to 30% was granted, but the issue of TDIU remains pending.

The Board has denied an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right lower extremity paralysis and PTSD, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasoning in the previous decision, and a new examination is needed.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including his hearing loss disability, low back disability, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, and associated neuropathy. The Veteran will need to undergo additional examinations to determine the current severity of his hearing loss, the nature and etiology of his low back disability, and the relationship between his sleep apnea and chemical exposure during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown to be related to service, and the Board denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have started during service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss. The decision is based on the evidence showing that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss may be related to noise exposure during active service, while his tinnitus began during service and was linked to his hearing loss.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain a new VA examination for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim, as his symptoms have worsened since the last examination. The examiner will need to determine if the Veteran currently has hearing loss for VA purposes and whether it is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims for various conditions. The Veteran's hearing loss and TBI are not currently established as service-connected.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for bilateral neuropathy is denied. The Board found the preponderance of evidence against a finding that the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity neuropathy was related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are not related to his active military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for insomnia disorder, GAD, right ankle condition, and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of VA examinations and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran is required to provide evidence of his Reserve service periods and undergo further examination by appropriate clinicians.

The Veteran's appeal was granted as a timely substantive appeal was filed in response to the October 2019 Statement of the Case denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks) due to insufficient examination and medical nexus opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as they are not related to service.,Degenerative Disc Disease of the Neck (previously characterized as spondylolysis L-5 on S-1) and Degenerative Disc Disease of the Back were remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.