Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was aggravated by his service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not due to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no causal relationship between the Veteran's active duty service and his current hearing disability, despite credible reports of noise exposure. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's hearing did not show significant threshold shifts at separation from service and concluded that the current hearing loss is less likely related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of use of insulin or hospitalizations.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under VA regulations.,The Veteran has been granted service connection for tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea. The Board remanded these issues as there are questions about their onset in service.,Service connection was established for hypertension, left knee disability, right knee disability, skin fungus (tinea pedis), and skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma).,The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) is not yet service connected.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss due to a lack of VA examination attendance.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the evidence was in equipoise on whether the current hearing loss and tinnitus were caused by noise exposure during military service.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected right ear cholesteatoma and associated right ear hearing loss, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded due to a lack of VA examination for hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than March 27, 2018 for service connection of various conditions. The Veteran was previously denied service connection due to dishonorable discharge from active duty.

The Board has remanded the service connection claim for left ear hearing loss due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's right and left ear hearing loss have been granted, but his left ear hearing loss remains under review.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that it began during active service and has been continuous since.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issue of a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss as there is no evidence of chronic symptoms during or within one year after service, and the Veteran's assertions of in-service onset are not credible. The VA examiner found that the current conditions are less likely related to military noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a psychosexual disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The claims of entitlement to service connection for left wrist disability and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to procedural errors in scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected. The issue of service connection for tinnitus has been remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral hearing loss, and COPD due to lack of evidence showing in-service onset or relationship to service. The Veteran's claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to in-service noise exposure.