Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's Meniere's syndrome with tinnitus, vertigo, and right ear hearing loss.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses were not shown as chronic in service or within a presumptive period, and there was no credible evidence of continuity of symptomatology. The Board also found that there is no medical nexus between the disabilities and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to December 21, 2015. The Board found that the Veteran could perform sedentary work and was not precluded from performing a position where moderate to heavy labor is not required.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability related to service due to normal audiometric results at separation from active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete service records. The Veteran's testimony indicates he was injured during active duty training, but the service personnel records are missing.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and he has been granted service connection.,His residuals of prostatic adenocarcinoma are not rated as compensable, but the issue remains remanded for further development.,The Veteran's heart condition (claimed as ischemic heart disease) does not qualify under the generally accepted medical definition of ischemic heart disease.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to insufficient examination findings and inadequate rationale in the previous VA opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his bilateral lower extremity condition, bilateral eye disorder, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, cannot establish service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not caused by in-service acoustic trauma, including exposure to loud noise during his military service. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's renal disease is granted as secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease. The claim for an initial rating higher than 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss and the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are both remanded.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues regarding tinnitus, hearing loss, and PTSD has been dismissed due to his withdrawal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied an earlier effective date for PTSD. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, headaches, left knee disability, right knee disability, and a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to January 2, 2015 for PTSD are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as service connection for Meniere’s syndrome, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right wrist disability has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her appeal in favor of the AMA framework. The claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with the October 2018 Board remand.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, atrial fibrillation, tinea pedis, and sleep apnea have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection due to lack of in-service onset or chronicity.

The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran's periods of active service are considered, including the conversion between ASA and ISO standards.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and prostate cancer. The claim of nonservice-connected pension benefits is also remanded due to insufficient information regarding income and medical expenses.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected lung disorder did not contribute to his death from hemolytic uremic syndrome.