Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, but the decision is pending on left ear hearing loss as it requires a new examination to determine if current criteria for hearing loss under VA regulations are met.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hand scar and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding no current disability in either case.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent from November 4, 2019. The Board denied an increased rating for his hearing loss as the evidence did not show a worsening of his condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to January 27, 2017 is denied as there was no pending claim at that time. The SMC at the housebound rate starting December 6, 2018 is granted due to a single service-connected disability rated at 100% and additional disabilities independently ratable at 60%.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 60 percent prior to February 10, 2020 for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development and review of missing audiometry reports.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for bilateral hearing loss, and the Board has dismissed it.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and initial ratings for various disabilities, including hearing loss, pleural plaques, skin cancer, and varicose veins. The VA is instructed to obtain additional medical records and provide a new opinion regarding the aggravation of a stroke by service-connected varicose veins.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the most recent audiometric evaluations showing Level I in both ears.,Service connection for a cervical spine disorder has not been established. The Board found no evidence of chronic disease during service or within one year post-service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The cases of COPD, left knee condition, and bilateral hearing loss are all remanded for further development.

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

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 18, 2018 is denied. The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations have been remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The right ankle condition claim is reopened, but further examination is needed to determine its etiology.

The Board dismissed the appeals for hearing loss and tinnitus as the appellant requested withdrawal of these appeals.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for Bell's palsy, GERD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and myositis due to additional development being required.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss disability. The Veteran served in active duty from June 1959 to May 1961 and reported noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was granted a 30 percent rating from May 17, 2016 to February 5, 2019.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% disabling, and his hearing loss is granted a 100% rating. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an initial 70 percent disability rating for adjustment disorder with depressed mood and insomnia, effective July 2, 2018, was granted. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea secondary to psoriasis is also granted.