Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and further requests for records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability consisting of or characterized by bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that his hearing loss had worsened to meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with a numeric designation of II. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for respiratory disorder (including COPD and emphysema) and total disability rating based on individual employability. The Veteran's exposure basis is not specified, and there was no indication of a presumption or secondary service connection theory.

The Board has reopened and granted service connection for several conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, bilateral shin splints, neuropathy of the lower extremities, and radiculopathy. The claims were previously denied due to lack of current disabilities or no disease/injury in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to exposure to noise during active duty and periods of ACDUTRA. The case is now before the Board for further review.

The Veteran's initial higher rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorders is denied. The Veteran's initial compensable rating for service-connected right ear hearing loss is also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was initially granted at a noncompensable rating, and later increased to 20 percent effective December 24, 2019. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet criteria for higher ratings prior to or after this date.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, as the evidence did not support that it began during active service or was related to an in-service injury.,For right shoulder disability, the Veteran's current flexion and abduction were found to be within normal limits with no additional loss of range of motion. The Board determined that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to December 6, 2019 was denied. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss on and after December 6, 2019 was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability likely arose during his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction. The decision on the hearing loss claim is based on evidence showing that the Veteran's current hearing loss may be related to his military service, while the erectile dysfunction claim was previously denied.

The Board has found that there was substantial compliance with the remand directives and thus a remand is required for further development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability and has remanded his claims of service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, CVA residuals, and prostate disorder due to insufficient evidence or conflicting diagnoses.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his service connection claim for diabetes mellitus, denied service connection for heart disability and bilateral hearing loss, and granted an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD. The appeal is dismissed as there was no justiciable case or controversy.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 8, 2019 is denied. The Veteran's increased rating (greater than 20 percent) for bilateral hearing loss from January 8, 2019 is also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to be at a level of no worse than Level VII in the right ear and Level XI in the left ear from May 15, 2019. The Board denied an initial compensable rating prior to that date and a rating in excess of 60 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected due to in-service exposure, with presumptive service connection.