Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury related to the condition.,Service connection for poor vision, claimed as cataracts, is denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.,Bilateral hearing loss disability is not granted as there is insufficient evidence connecting it to service.,The Veteran's claim for a condition manifested by body weakness is denied because no current diagnosis was found.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 50 percent from January 28, 2019. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating prior to this date.

The Veteran's bladder cancer is granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals of service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, back condition, right knee condition, and tinnitus due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 30 percent effective October 23, 2019. The Board denied a higher rating for the period prior to that date and also denied TDIU prior to December 18, 2019.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 50 percent from September 11, 2018 to June 9, 2019. Prior to this date and thereafter, the rating remained noncompensable.

The Veteran's claim to reopen the bilateral hearing loss service connection was granted. The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including increased ratings for left little finger disability and service connection for hyperuricemia (gout) and a low back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to a TDIU due to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran missed his VA examination, which is now required again.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist and hand disability, as well as her claim for bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete development of records.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to his in-service hearing loss. The claims for right and left ear hearing loss were denied as new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active service or any service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 40 percent since February 2014. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating, as his hearing impairment was no worse than Level IX in the right ear and Level VI in the left ear throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) since March 30, 2017 was dismissed as moot because he is receiving the maximum benefits allowed under applicable statutes and regulations. The claim of entitlement to a TDIU prior to March 30, 2017 was denied due to his service-connected disabilities not being severe enough to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a noninitial compensable disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss due to missing VA audiogram and unclear speech discrimination testing.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with previous remand directives and requires additional development for a fully adequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is due to his military service including exposure to gunfire and scuba diving.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus is denied as the evidence does not support a current diagnosis or link to service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as PTSD, is denied due to lack of credible evidence linking it to service.,The Veteran's claim for a respiratory condition is denied without sufficient evidence.,Right knee osteoarthritis is also denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for COPD, basal cell skin carcinoma, sleep apnea, and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed due to the Veteran's request to withdraw his appeals.