Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of discussion regarding favorable evidence in the VA opinion. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being reviewed again for possible pre-existing conditions and its relation to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions have been granted.,The reopened claims include headaches, sinusitis (previously addressed as sinus condition with hay fever and bronchitis), chronic fatigue, right ankle Achilles tendonitis, bilateral hearing loss, and skin rash. These claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of right ear hearing loss for VA purposes, and thus service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, bronchitis, right hand/finger condition, and left heel condition have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service events that could support service connection.,Service connection has not been established for any of the claimed conditions due to a lack of medical evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, with the effective date being September 4, 2018. The Board found that from April 29, 2019 to December 16, 2019, he should be rated at 40 percent and after December 16, 2019, at 60 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted, and his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, alone, rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance. The examiner needs to consider lay testimony and other evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible statements of in-service noise exposure and the presence of symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and blood in her ear canals are related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is not shown, and service connection for this condition is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus was onset during active service.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's in-service noise exposure is considered, but an addendum opinion from a specialist is needed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss as there is no evidence of current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral foot disability and prostate cancer. The back disability and bilateral hearing loss claims are remanded due to incomplete records and need additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence that the conditions began during or were caused by his military service.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis or objective findings of hearing loss in either ear.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have met the threshold schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to April 5, 2019. However, he has been able to secure and follow substantially gainful employment during this period.

The Veteran is granted a rating of 50 percent for bilateral hearing loss disability beginning March 20, 2019. Prior to that date, the Veteran's hearing impairment was no worse than Level III in each ear and he does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting the VA definition of hearing loss.,Service connection for residuals, prostate cancer status post prostatectomy is denied because the evidence does not show that the condition began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.