Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether it had its onset during active service or within one year of separation from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is a result of noise exposure during his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and for an effective date earlier than April 28, 2017 for the 40 percent rating for residuals of prostate cancer due to a lack of recent VA examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure likely caused his current condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for sleeplessness as secondary to right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus due to withdrawals by the appellant.

The Board has remanded several issues for further examination and development, including service connection claims for various conditions and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and in-service noise exposure. The examiner is requested to address whether the hearing loss may be a manifestation of acoustic damage from service, even if it did not manifest until after separation.

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 and that any potential hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient reasoning in a previous VA opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is denied as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.,Service connection for headaches, to include as secondary to TBI, is denied due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to service or TBI.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include depression and anxiety, is denied as there is no evidence showing it was incurred in service.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not shown by VA standards.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and right ankle disability are dismissed due to the grant of these conditions in a previous rating decision. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding the Veteran's request to reopen a claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability. The claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, lumbar spine strain, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and PTSD, have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since June 8, 2016. The Board has determined that the criteria for TDIU were met during this period.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that his claim for an initial compensable rating has not been met.,The Veteran contends he lost his job due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Board denied his TDIU claim as there was no evidence showing his employment issues were solely or primarily caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The appeal on the issue of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder is dismissed.,Entitlement to service connection for left shoulder arthritis is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and total disability based individual unemployability due to a lack of recent medical records, employment records, and tax returns. The Veteran is also asked to provide functional impairments assessments and etiological opinions regarding his vertigo.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee and left knee DJD. The claims for service connection remain pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to his active service, including as due to hazardous noise exposure during military service. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.