Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded to verify the stressor and determine if it is related to his service. The right ear hearing loss disability is also being remanded as there are no clear and unmistakable evidence that it was not aggravated by service, and a left middle finger disorder is being remanded to determine its etiology.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD will be considered based on the verified stressor. The right ear hearing loss disability may be related to his service due to exposure to noise during service. The left middle finger disorder needs further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. These conditions are found to be related to military service or hazardous noise exposure.,Service connection is granted as the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to April 30, 2019 was denied.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss since April 30, 2019 was also denied. The Veteran's Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) had its rating reduced from 100% to 0% effective May 1, 2018 due to remission and the RO found that restoration of a 100% rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow gainful employment, and the Board denies his claim for a TDIU.

The Veteran's tonsil cancer is granted service connection as it was caused by exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in service. Service connection for bilateral knee disability, bilateral foot disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus are denied due to lack of a nexus between the disabilities and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability prior to August 10, 2018, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for gastric cancer and liver cancer, both linked to herbicide agent exposure. The cause of the Veteran's death is also considered service-connected due to his gastric cancer. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss, arrhythmia, high cholesterol, an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely depression), and chloracne.

The Veteran's cochlear hyperacusis is related to his military service and the claim for service connection is granted. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence being added to the Veteran's record, and the AOJ needs to review this additional evidence before making further decisions on the service connection claims.

The Veteran's onychomycosis of the bilateral feet is rated as noncompensable (zero percent) throughout the appeal period.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted, but a compensable rating remains denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is now rated at 40 percent effective November 22, 2017. His status post left mastoidectomy with ossicular chain reconstruction and status post left tympanoplasty, and right tympanoplasty with ossicular chain reconstruction are both currently rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, a compensable disability rating for hearing loss prior to March 30, 2020, and a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to May 24, 2012 have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Board has denied a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of entitlement to TDIU. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as Level III in his right ear and Level II in his left ear, resulting in no compensation.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, which are currently service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for right ear and left ear hearing loss disabilities, finding that the Veteran's preexisting conditions did not worsen during his active service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing disabilities did not worsen during service or were not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is warranted due to service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.

The appeal regarding the pyloric channel ulcer is dismissed. The issue of a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and a need for further examination. The issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss is being reviewed.

The Board dismissed the appellant's claims for effective dates earlier than April 18, 2016, for service connection of lumbar strain, spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease, degenerative joint disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss.,The Board also dismissed the appellant's claims for initial increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.