Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded three issues: whether new and material evidence was received to reopen claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The Veteran's request for a higher rating for PTSD is also being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss did not begin during service and is unrelated to his active duty.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with the Board finding credible his reports of in-service noise exposure. Service connection is granted for these conditions.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction as secondary to a service-connected back condition is also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for VR&E services due to his service-connected disabilities not meeting the threshold requirements of having an employment handicap, despite his master’s degree and over 20 years of experience in healthcare.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as bilateral hearing loss, have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his knee disabilities and hearing loss has been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service acoustic trauma. The decision resolves all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board dismissed all issues related to service connection and disability ratings due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding its etiology. The Veteran's lay statements and audiometric test results from his enlistment and separation examinations are also considered.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. The lung cancer claim is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives regarding the Veteran's hearing loss claim. The Veteran was not provided a new VA examination that specifically considered his lay statements and military occupational specialty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicides, as his service was within the territorial waters of Vietnam.

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

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his hearing loss was dismissed because the appeal has become moot due to his death.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has decided that a higher disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is not appropriate and has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion from the audiologist who conducted the January 2020 VA examination.

The Board has granted the readjudication of the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, and has remanded it for further examination.