Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for eczema.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates related to tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss as he did not pursue an appeal under either the legacy or AMA systems.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. The Veteran's right jaw nerve problem, right eye condition, and left knee joint osteoarthritis are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's left facial nerve schwannoma with left ear hearing loss had its onset during service and is granted. The Veteran's left hand disorder, including residuals of a fracture of the third metacarpal, did not have its onset or increase in severity during service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to May 15, 2019 and in excess of 60 percent thereafter is remanded due to incomplete audiometric test results. The VA needs to obtain the August 2017 audiometric test results and any subsequent audiometry records.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it did not meet the criteria for service connection as there was no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by service and no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. The Veteran's hearing loss was found to be more likely age-related rather than related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to the need for additional opinions regarding whether there was any increase in severity during service, and if so, whether it is clear and unmistakable that such increase was due to natural progression.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not attributable to his in-service noise exposure. The decision is based on medical opinions provided by private physicians who supported the Veteran's assertions of service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim. The Board also found that there is a link between the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and his current left ear hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding new evidence sufficient to establish that these conditions may be related to in-service noise exposure. The claim is granted as there is reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted, with a rating of 60 percent prior to June 6, 2016.,Service connection for asthma is denied. The claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for bilateral bunions is denied. The claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's tinea cruris is granted with a 60 percent rating, but only prior to June 6, 2016. After that date, the condition required constant or near-constant systemic therapy.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's initial increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for additional VA and private medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are linked to his in-service noise exposure. The decision also found that the Veteran's tinnitus is secondary to his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that his current condition is related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of a VA examination for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim will be further developed and evaluated.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which he contends are related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence meeting VA criteria. The issue of service connection for depressive disorder, secondary to left ear hearing loss, is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his sensorineural bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and clarification of whether his hearing loss can improve.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for MS is remanded and requires further examination to determine the relationship between her current condition and service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded and requires further examination to determine the relationship between her current condition and service.