Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service due to noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine strain, left foot disability, and left ear hearing loss are all rated at the lowest possible level (10%) due to their current severity.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is due to his active service. For right ear hearing loss, the Board found that it was aggravated during service but not shown to be due to natural progression.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to new evidence obtained from service treatment records and personnel records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and allergic rhinitis. Service connection is also granted for left shoulder disability and back disability, but the issues of compensable ratings for left ear hearing loss and scars as residual of basal cell carcinoma excisions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records related to bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease is granted. A 10 percent rating is granted for bilateral hearing loss prior to February 6, 2019, and a 30 percent rating is granted from that date onwards.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, and shoulder disabilities were denied. The claim for a back disability was not addressed as it is considered part of the service-connected fibromyalgia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to his military service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss as there is no current disability in the right ear, and the Veteran has already been granted service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and a separate rating for peripheral vestibular disorder was denied. The Veteran currently receives a noncompensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss prior to May 30, 2017 and a 60 percent rating thereafter. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for the Veteran's peripheral vestibular disorder.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has worsened, and a new examination is needed to assess the current severity of the condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions and further development is required.

An earlier effective date of May 21, 2012 for the award of a 70% rating for PTSD is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 60% rating for ischemic heart disease is also denied.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the current level of impairment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown to be related to service, as there is no evidence of a current disability during or within one year after separation from active duty. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes at any time during service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD and hearing loss, have been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability and attributing any potential hearing loss to non-service-related causes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral vision and hearing loss due to incomplete development of exposure history, lack of a VA examination, and inadequate rationale in the January 2019 opinion.