Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and increased rating for left knee pain with weakness are denied. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, and his left knee disability is rated as noncompensable prior to October 15, 2014, and 10 percent disabling thereafter.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 80 percent, but he seeks a higher initial rating. The Board has remanded the case for additional development to consider new VA treatment records and determine if an increased rating or TDIU are warranted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with lower extremity radiculopathy, left ear hearing loss, and a psychiatric disorder due to outstanding treatment records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a back disorder. The decision is remanded to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's back disorder, including whether it was aggravated by military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran should be provided with a new VA examination to determine if his current hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a bilateral knee condition, a shoulder condition, and a back disorder due to incomplete records and inadequate examinations. The case is being sent back for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected residual scar from his laceration to the base of his right fifth finger is not characterized by pain or instability. The Veteran has been granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, but left ear hearing loss was not diagnosed for VA benefits purposes. Service connection for both conditions remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment at any pertinent point prior to his death. The claim for a TDIU due to the late Veteran’s service-connected disabilities, to include on an extra-schedular basis, must be denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities were both denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s current hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's rating schedule, and his TDIU claim was also denied as his combined service-connected disability rating does not meet the requirements for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted as it is at least as likely as not that the condition began in service and has persisted since.,The Veteran's kidney cancer claim is denied because there is no evidence of a disease or injury in service, nor any indication that the condition manifested within one year of separation from service.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is remanded due to the possibility of delayed onset tinnitus and insufficient rationale for the November 2016 VA examiner’s opinion.,The Veteran's left knee disability claim is remanded as there are no medical opinions regarding a nexus between in-service complaints and current disabilities.,The Veteran's right knee disability claim is remanded due to lack of medical evidence addressing the relationship between service and current knee conditions.,The Veteran's fibromyalgia claim is remanded because there is insufficient evidence linking current symptoms to service.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, and ischemic heart disease claims are both remanded as exposure to herbicide agents in service must be verified before a determination can be made on these claims.,The Veteran's respiratory disability claim is remanded due to the possibility of secondary service connection for coronary artery disease.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a lung disability and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records, undergo new examinations, and receive further medical opinions.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the lack of speech discrimination scores from an August 2017 VA examination and because his hearing has deteriorated over time. The Veteran needs to be provided with an updated audiological evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of substantial compliance with its July 2019 decision, specifically regarding an addendum opinion on the Veteran's hearing loss. The case is now back for further review.

From December 10, 2015, the Veteran was found to be unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as the evidence supports a finding that his current condition had its onset in-service and has continued since service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and has determined that he is entitled to this benefit based on evidence showing a link between his current condition and his military service. The decision resolves all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration of additional evidence.