Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability as defined by VA regulations.,The Board also found no evidence linking the Veteran's current tinnitus to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral tinnitus is granted. The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD have all been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had acoustic trauma in service which led to his current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty service, granting the claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an immune disorder, tumors of the hand and feet, dental condition (loss of all teeth), and initial rating for left ear hearing loss have been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has denied service connection for asbestosis, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence does not support a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate reasoning in the VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 10, 2019 for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied as the earliest date entitlement arose is July 10, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection to bilateral hearing loss disability and TBI have been reopened due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The claim for bilateral hearing loss disability is granted, while the claim for TBI remains pending as it does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss due to a lack of evidence linking the current conditions to active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his service or any incident therein.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and back condition/collapsed disc due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's service treatment records need to be obtained, particularly those from April 1964 regarding his lumbar strain. A VA examination is also needed for both conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, and his bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a rating of 10 percent for tinnitus. The effective date for the award of service connection for tinnitus is set at September 5, 2019.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as secondary to his service-connected left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claims for right knee condition, left foot disorder, left knee disorder, and right foot disorder are remanded due to duty to assist errors prior to the February 2020 rating decision. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and he is not entitled to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for heart disease due to VA treatment.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss but has remanded the case to determine if the Veteran has left ear hearing loss.

The Board has ordered a remand to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, considering his reported noise exposure during service.