Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has decided that the claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss needs to be remanded due to missing audiogram results and unclear speech discrimination scores.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to the need for updated VA examinations and consideration of a new examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, hypertension, sinusitis, left ankle arthritis, and bilateral shoulder arthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including generalized anxiety disorder, was granted. The claims for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including tinnitus, right ankle disability, right elbow necrotic ulcer with scar, pelvic fracture, basilar skull fracture, right medial orbital wall fracture, right ear hearing loss disability, tracheostomy, right pulmonary contusion, grade VI liver laceration, status post-surgical repair, intraperitoneal bladder rupture, status-post surgical repair, splenetic laceration, status post multiple laparotomy repairs, scar secondary to a tracheostomy, scarring from stomach surgery, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and traumatic brain injury. The decision was based on the finding that these disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service due to willful misconduct.,The Board also denied service connection for a right ankle disability, as it was determined that the Veteran's tinnitus did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to service.

The Board denied service connection for multiple sclerosis, rhinitis, tinnitus, shrapnel right eye, sinusitis, and bilateral hearing loss disability. The cause of death was also denied as not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, lumbar spine disorder, and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's current conditions are considered to be directly related to his military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of a right knee condition and bilateral hearing loss due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been manifested by hearing acuity of no worse than Level II in the right and left ear, resulting in a non-compensable rating. The Board denied entitlement to an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss as his symptoms do not warrant a compensable rating at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with effective date of July 1, 2020. The conditions were found to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and an inadequate nexus opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn, and all issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 30 percent effective October 29, 2019. Prior to that date, the rating was ten percent.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for left wrist fracture residuals with DJD has been denied. The Veteran does not have ankylosis, which would warrant a higher rating.,Prior to June 20, 2017, the Veteran's service-connected left CTS was rated at 10 percent based on mild incomplete paralysis of the median nerve. As of June 20, 2017, the condition has been rated as severe incomplete paralysis due to symptoms such as loss of reflexes and muscle atrophy.,The Veteran's residual linear and nonlinear scars have not met the criteria for a compensable rating based on pain or instability.

The Board has remanded the claims of increased ratings for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, and PTSD due to procedural issues with earlier effective dates. The Veteran's current service-connected conditions are rated at 10 percent each.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability. The Board also granted a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss.,The decision does not specify an effective date.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus are found to be related to service, while his dizziness/loss of consciousness is not. The liver disability claim was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The initial rating for spastic colitis remains at 30 percent.