Hearing loss decisions — 2020

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

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the issue of service connection for Meniere's Syndrome due to inadequate examination and misstated period of service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination reports and need for further development of evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability. The left knee and acquired psychiatric disorder issues are remanded, as is the migraine headache issue.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with auditory acuity levels of no worse than Level II impairment during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy, as well as service connection for surgical scars, were denied. His claim of service connection for a TBI was reopened due to new evidence received since the last final denial.

The Veteran's left knee disorder is granted as incurred during service.,Bilateral hearing loss is not granted, but the claim for tinnitus is granted due to in-service noise exposure.,A right knee disorder is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were denied in a final December 2011 rating decision. The Veteran filed an intent to reopen his claim on June 27, 2014, which was granted with an effective date of that same day. As there was no communication received by VA prior to the June 27, 2014 intent to apply for service connection, the claims cannot be dated earlier than this.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative changes of the right hand and wrist, and scars of the right hand due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded his TDIU claim due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the claim for left ear hearing loss due to new evidence being added to the claims file. The case will be reconsidered and a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) will be issued.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records, and the Veteran's hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding whether the veteran's hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to service. The decision on tinnitus remains denied.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a relationship between the Veteran’s current tinnitus and service.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the Board has remanded his service connection claim for a bilateral eye disorder due to missing records from Boling Vision Center.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is being remanded for further evaluation regarding the etiology of his current hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient evidence and potential worsening of service-connected disabilities. Additional development is needed, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from October 31, 2015.