Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, with no audiometric findings warranting a higher rating.

The Board denied a claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that the audiometric test results did not warrant such a rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus has been granted. The decision also remanded the issue of increased rating for PTSD.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from June 22, 2016 to June 5, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities. The issue of TDIU subsequent to June 5, 2019 is dismissed as moot.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic hearing impairment during service. The Board also found that the post-service diagnosis of hearing loss did not meet VA standards for a disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has granted a noncompensable rating for this condition. The issue of TDIU remains before the Board.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for testicular cancer, hands and hips pain (claimed as arthritis), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD due to lack of evidence supporting a direct relationship with his military service. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria and concluding that any hearing loss is not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment, so his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board denied an increased rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU in January 2010, but remanded it. The February 2018 rating decision granted the TDIU based on service-connected conditions, and the RO issued the decision. However, there was no final Board decision on the issue of TDIU before June 20, 2007.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service connected. The Board found new evidence relevant to the claims, including a private opinion linking his tinnitus to military noise exposure. Service connection is established for these conditions based on direct evidence of in-service injury or disease.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that her current hearing loss is not related to her military service and does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

Your appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals regarding your claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied because it was not filed within one year of the AOJ's decision denying this claim.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and denied an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his military service, while the left ear hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lung cancer, coronary artery disease (CAD), and diabetes mellitus type 2 (diabetes) due to insufficient development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's testimony and service treatment records regarding his right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression, was also denied.