Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 22, 2019 was denied. For the period beginning October 22, 2019, his claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent was also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one must be conducted.

The Board has withdrawn the appeal for a compensable rating for service-connected sensorineural hearing loss. The appeals for service connection for DMII, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, CAD, and left shoulder disorder are remanded due to lack of evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service. The evidence showed no permanent auditory damage from conceded noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not found to be related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure causing permanent auditory damage. The disability did not manifest within the applicable presumptive period and continuity of symptomatology is not established.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected, but his tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis beginning February 23, 2004.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current conditions and military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at a 20 percent rating from February 14, 2007, to January 30, 2012. The Board granted this rating and found no higher rating is warranted for the period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure and insufficient medical evidence to link his current hearing loss to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss disability and left ear mixed hearing loss disability, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent from February 26, 2018 to August 6, 2019 and denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 40 percent since August 7, 2019 and denied a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension. Service connection is denied for malaria residuals, heart disability, diabetes mellitus, type 2, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's application to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's request to reopen his claim for a chronic cough was granted, but he was still denied as there was no reasonable possibility that the additional evidence could substantiate the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran experienced in-service acoustic trauma and continuous symptoms since separation from service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not caused by noise exposure during service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service. The decision also notes conflicting opinions from VA audiologists regarding the relationship between current hearing loss and the in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, right foot condition, right ankle condition, and right knee conditions are all remanded. The left knee condition claim is also remanded as secondary to the right knee condition.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has rendered him unable to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful occupation for the period from February 20, 2013, to April 22, 2015.