Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure, as there is insufficient evidence to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was denied a compensable rating prior to January 8, 2015 and in excess of 40 percent from January 8, 2015 to July 23, 2019. The claim for a higher rating after July 23, 2019 remains pending.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was denied as the disability is not shown to be related to service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they did not begin during active service or are otherwise related to in-service noise exposure.,PTSD is not service-connected as there is no credible evidence of a verified stressor event. The Veteran's reported incidents could not be corroborated.

The Board has denied service connection for all claimed disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, right eye retina disability, GERD, constipation, COPD, sleep apnea, heart disability, hypertension, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and erectile dysfunction, as they are not shown to be related to military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, which is related to service exposure. Additional development is needed including obtaining a new VA medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to a flawed VA medical opinion that relied on an IOM report, and the need for an examination to determine if any current hearing loss is at least as likely due to conceded acoustic trauma in service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 11, 2019, and since that date was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the nature, etiology, and severity of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied the claim on the merits. The evidence does not establish a current disability or relate to an in-service injury, and the Board finds that any current hearing loss is less likely related to service.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and a left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has not been shown to warrant a compensable rating prior to August 1, 2011. The Board denied an initial compensable rating for the period from October 31, 2006, to July 31, 2011.

The Board denied service connection for scars on the scrotum, left forearm, and forehead. The decision also denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of in-service injury or exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to conflicting opinions and insufficient evidence. Additional development is needed, including a new VA medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 23, 2017 and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied as his audiometric test results do not warrant such an increase.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20% effective October 23, 2014, and at 80% effective October 7, 2019. The claim for a higher rating for hernia residuals was denied as the evidence did not support a compensable rating.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis and credible reports of in-service noise exposure and continued symptoms since active service established a continuity of symptomatology. The Board also found VA examinations to be inadequate due to their failure to consider relevant evidence.

The Board has denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral leg condition, low back condition, and bilateral ankle condition.