Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.,The claim for service connection for skin cancer and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression) is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding exposure to ionizing radiation during service.,The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, is remanded as it may be significantly impacted by a determination on the skin cancer claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new medical opinion is needed regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to her military service due to noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the case for further development regarding bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus because the submitted evidence was not new and relevant. The Veteran had a high probability of noise exposure during his military service, but there is no new evidence that tends to prove or disprove an etiological relationship between his conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The issues of service connection for PTSD, peripheral neuropathy right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy left lower extremity remain on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is remanded as new VA treatment records may provide relevant information.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as a result of service connection based on exposure to loud noise during active duty and the current presence of a disability.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the medical evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board has dismissed all appeals due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grants were denied as she does not meet the criteria for eligibility based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection, including for erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, and a headache disorder. The effective dates for the grants of service connection are not specified as they are pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with a finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 20% since February 13, 2009. The Board found that the evidence does not show the Veteran meets the criteria for a compensable rating and denied his claim.

The Veteran's TBI and migraine headaches have been rated as 10% prior to January 22, 2020 and 30% from that date. The left ear hearing loss has not yet resulted in a compensable rating.,A higher rating for the Veteran's migraines is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (stressor related disorder claimed as PTSD). The claims were reopened due to new evidence submitted since the final rating decision. Service connection is established for these conditions based on direct evidence of their onset in service.

The Veteran's left ankle fracture residuals are granted an increased rating of 20 percent. Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is considered to have been incurred in and due to his time in service, and the Board granted this claim based on the presumption of soundness at entry into service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, generalized anxiety disorder, tinnitus, coronary artery disease with coronary artery bypass graft residuals, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and a midline chest scar, make him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable (zero percent) since March 2016. The VA examinations conducted in December 2015 and September 2019 did not show any significant improvement, with the Veteran’s puretone thresholds remaining at levels consistent with Level I for both ears.