Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with an average puretone threshold of 38 dB in the left ear and 49 dB in the right ear. The Board found that his hearing has worsened over time but does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as a chronic disease under the presumptive provisions. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in a loss or loss of use other than an upper extremity, and he is not service-connected for a severe burn injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise on whether these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and a need for further opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to noise exposure during service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as the audiometric findings do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for additional development to determine if it is related to noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, pneumonia residuals, and lumbar spine disability are granted service connection. The Veteran's nasal surgery residuals (including nosebleeds) and bilateral hip disability remain unresolved.,Service connection for the Veteran’s bilateral hip disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service connection requests for tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, anxiety disorder, right ear hearing loss, and tension headaches have been granted. The initial rating for right upper extremity radial sensory neuropathy has also been granted at a 30 percent level. Service connection was established for anxiety disorder after the claims were reopened based on new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to non-compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and eye disability, including vision loss, are being reviewed again.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and denied a compensable disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is related to his noise exposure during active duty.

Service connection for PTSD is granted. The Veteran's right wrist disability and bilateral hearing loss are remanded for further evaluation, as is his low back disability.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating higher than 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he failed to report for a VA examination scheduled in conjunction with his claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss will be reconsidered with new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is at least in equipoise with his in-service noise exposure during combat.