Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 60 percent for the period from March 17, 2015 through September 20, 2018. The Board denied a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no nexus between his current hearing loss disability and his military service. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to his hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is not related to his active service, including his in-service noise exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of delayed onset hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. His CAD has also been granted based on herbicide exposure in Korea.,Service connection for his back disability, right lower extremity sciatica, skin disabilities (porphyria cutanea tarda and eczema), hemochromatosis, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and TDIU has been granted. However, these claims are remanded due to lack of evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases of tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss for further examination and opinion. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are not currently decided.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as not related to service.,Service connection for chronic frontal and maxillary sinusitis has been granted with a rating of 30 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss disability and initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss disability due to insufficient information regarding the qualifications of the December 2019 VA examiner. The Veteran will be provided with this information.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was insufficient evidence to support a compensable rating prior to January 21, 2020 and a 10 percent rating thereafter. The decision is based on the VA examinations conducted in April 2016 and January 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the decision on bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to an inaccurate history provided by the VA examiner.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a duty-to-assist error that occurred prior to the July 2019 rating decision on appeal. The Veteran's claim is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence.,Right ear hearing loss is found to be etiologically related to in-service noise exposure.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and a duty to assist error.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral varicose veins, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The denial of these claims is based on a lack of evidence establishing a nexus to service or continuous symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation prior to July 24, 2015, for bilateral hearing loss was denied. For the period of July 24, 2015, to October 15, 2015, the claim for an increased 10 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is granted. For the period since October 15, 2015, the claim for an evaluation greater than 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not due to her military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss started in service and continued after service, finding it at least as likely as not related to his military noise exposure. As a result, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.