Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to July 23, 2019 has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal through his attorney.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during her military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

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 within one year of discharge. The Board also noted that the Veteran did not report any symptoms until decades after his separation from service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss did not have its onset during service and is not related to any incident of service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during or within one year of his active service, and is not otherwise etiologically related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss before September 21, 2020 and a rating higher than 10 percent from that date. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent effective September 21, 2020.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and verifying employment dates and income. The Veteran's TDIU claim will be reassessed based on the new information.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was no worse than Level I impairment of each ear, and therefore a compensable rating is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability in either condition, and that any etiology provided by the Veteran or his provider does not meet the required standard of medical evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete audiometric test results and requests for additional information from the Veteran's private treatment provider. The appeal will be reconsidered with these new pieces of evidence.

The Board denied a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to September 14, 2011 due to the preponderance of evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for COPD, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of STRs and insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and TDIU due to inadequate notice regarding a proposed reduction in the Veteran's coronary artery disease rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. The claim for a disability manifested by loss of balance is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service or any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's PTSD and bilateral hearing loss were found to be less than 100 percent disabling, resulting in a denial of increased ratings. The Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board finds no prior communication from the Veteran before his November 8, 2018 claim that can be interpreted as an intent to file a service-connection claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran has current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, which is related to his military service due to noise exposure.

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

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by service, and the Veteran's current hearing loss is not shown to be due to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing disability did not manifest during or within a year of separation from active duty and was not linked to in-service noise exposure.