Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and lumbar and cervical spine conditions are remanded for further evaluation due to the need for new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient reasoning in the VA examination report. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions based on noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that his average puretone decibel loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence of a noise injury in-service and no current disability.,The Board denied service connection for tinnitus as there was no evidence of a noise injury in-service, and the Veteran reported his tinnitus began decades after service.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine disorder, eye disorder (secondary to TBI), bilateral hearing loss (secondary to TBI), and obstructive sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to a lack of an opinion on whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service ear infections and if those infections aggravated or caused his current hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.,Service connection has been granted for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left and/or right Achilles tendon disorder, left foot disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder have been denied. The Board has remanded these issues due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, plantar fasciitis, ankle disorders, diabetic neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities have been dismissed. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted.,Remaining issues of service connection are remanded: low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, chronic skin disorder, OSA, hypertension, migraines, diabetes, and CFS.

The Veteran's hearing loss was evaluated as Level I in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating. The Board denied the claim for an increased rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left knee disorder are granted service connection, while the claims for scar on left forearm and bilateral hearing loss are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Service connection is also remanded for hypertension, as the opinion provided does not adequately address whether it is proximately due to or aggravated by diabetes.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and left ear hearing loss have been granted. The claim seeking an earlier effective date for PTSD has been dismissed.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is granted as secondary to diabetes mellitus, and service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as it was not shown to be related to service, despite the Veteran's exposure to noise in service. The preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that his current hearing loss disability is etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if service connection can be established for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, seizure disorder claimed as residual of TBI, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the evaluation from 10 percent to a noncompensable rating for hearing loss of the left ear was not proper. The Veteran's claim for increased rating for hearing loss of the left ear is remanded, as well as his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to August 2, 2013, for tinnitus and a higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to procedural issues.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology, specifically related to noise exposure during service.