Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues of service connection for cardiomyopathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted as the evidence shows that the Veteran experienced symptoms related to tinnitus within a year after separation from active duty.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating of 70 percent for service-connected PTSD, effective from October 24, 2015. The other issues were withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and following substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted TDIU effective February 8, 2012.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and potential herbicide exposure verification.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in previous audiometric evaluations and a need for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for left and right ear hearing loss disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing the presence of a current disability, as well as an inability to establish a nexus between in-service noise exposure and the current conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Parkinson's disease and related tremors, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since January 22, 2018.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent disabling effective June 12, 2017. The claim for a higher rating prior to that date is denied.

The Board has decided that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and needs a new medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military noise exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin condition, chronic gastritis, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support the presence of these conditions during or after service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and COPD have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to February 24, 2011.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one must be conducted for a proper determination of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a VA examination. The case will also be referred to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service if the Veteran does not meet criteria for TDIU under §4.16(a).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and bilateral recurrent tinnitus are service-connected, with the benefit of doubt given to the claimant.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to April 18, 2019 was denied. From April 18, 2019 onwards, the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent was also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted a 50% rating from October 31, 2013 onward. The Board found the evidence supported this rating based on multiple subsequent audiometry reports showing more severe hearing impairment.

The Board has remanded the cases for obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.