Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the appellant is not entitled to DIC under Section 1318.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, major depressive disorder, and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. The right foot condition claim is denied. An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus remains denied.,Service connection has not been established for a left knee condition or emphysema with spontaneous pneumothorax, status post apical wedge resection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service hazardous noise exposure.,The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae remains under consideration for a higher rating. The VA has been instructed to provide an addendum opinion addressing whether topical corticosteroid medications used to treat his skin condition constitute systemic therapy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete evaluations and a need for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, and the Board denied a higher rating based on the objective audiometric test results.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further evaluation due to conflicting medical opinions based on a study from the Institute of Medicine.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions considering a recent study.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a hematologic disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining audiogram results and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 50% rating, CAD is granted a 10% rating for scars and denied higher ratings. Bilateral hearing loss service connection is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's current tinnitus was incurred in service, and thus, assigned him the benefit of the doubt.,For his hemorrhoids, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), bilateral hearing loss, degenerative joint disease of the left ankle, and residuals of right ankle injury claims, a new VA examination is required to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU, but the issues of increased ratings for PTSD and other conditions are remanded.

The appeal for service connection of lineal scar, right side of nose (disfigurement), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), cardiovascular disorder, and bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for a lineal scar, right side of nose (painful scar) and bilateral plantar keratotic lesions prior to May 13, 2021, as well as for a right foot plantar callus since May 13, 2021, was also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic hearing loss during service. The Board also found that the current hearing loss is not related to service and concluded that it is more likely due to age-related changes.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to a lack of adequate VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's left knee DJD (flexion) and limitation of extension are rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, with no further increase in evaluation possible based on the objective test results provided.,The Veteran's left knee instability is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the highest rating available for this condition. The claim is remanded as new evidence may warrant a higher rating.,A separate 20 percent evaluation has been granted for dislocated cartilage with frequent episodes of 'locking', pain, and effusion into the joint, based on the Veteran's symptoms and medical history.,The right knee sprain and right shoulder stretched ligaments/torn tendons s/p surgery claims are also remanded as new evidence may warrant a different outcome.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his current conditions.

An initial 10 percent rating is granted for left elbow strain, effective July 31, 2017.,Service connection is granted for right shoulder and right elbow strains.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss was denied. The appeal regarding the recognition of K.T. as a helpless child for VA dependency compensation is also denied, with an effective date set at June 12, 2013. His claim for increased rating of intraventricular heart block remains denied.