Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and low back disorder and bilateral knee disorders.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they have been granted by a June 2020 rating decision. The issues of service connection for a stomach condition, to include GERD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include adjustment disorder with anxiety, secondary to service-connected status-post inguinal hernia repairs are remanded.

The Veteran's noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the lack of a recent VA examination, which may indicate worsening of his condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of a disability for VA purposes.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete audiometric records, and further action is required by VA.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinion from a previous VA examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss. The examiner needs to provide an updated opinion on whether the Veteran’s hearing loss is related to his service, including conceded in-service noise exposure, and if not, whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hearing loss is related to service. Additional development, including a new examination and an addendum opinion, is needed.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a chronic headache disorder for additional development.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted due to exposure to noise during military service and credible statements of experiencing hearing loss since service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an opinion regarding the Veteran's heart disability and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to his death. The claims are not considered active as the appellant is deceased.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of service-connected hearing loss, coronary artery disease (CAD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings in any of these cases.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss. The claim will be reconsidered with a new opinion from an appropriate examiner.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable prior to January 15, 2016. As of that date, his combined rating was at least 70 percent and he received a TDIU due to the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's claim for left lower extremity radiculopathy is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus is denied due to lack of in-service noise exposure and the absence of continuity of symptomatology.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as she does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss for VA purposes.,The Veteran's claim for hepatitis disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's right forearm scar is granted a 10% disability rating effective December 4, 2017.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are both granted. The service connection for type II diabetes mellitus as secondary to herbicide-agent exposure is also granted.,A compensable disability rating for the right forearm scar prior to December 4, 2017, is denied.

The Board dismissed the claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) because the appellant failed to provide requested information and releases for critical evidence needed to properly adjudicate the claim.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension are not related to his active service. The claims for these conditions have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at 50 percent prior to December 6, 2018. The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU for the period prior to November 13, 2013.