Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes, do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that TDIU is denied as his combined rating is at least 80 percent.

The Board has decided that the right ear hearing loss is related to service and remands for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU due to inadequate VA examination and lack of clarification from a private audiological evaluation.

The Veteran's initial claim for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was granted in September 2017, and he has been assigned a non-compensable rating since then. The Board found that his hearing acuity levels have consistently been at Level I or II throughout the appeal period, which corresponds to a non-compensable disability rating under VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's credible assertions of ringing in his ears during and after active service establish chronicity of the condition which was later diagnosed as tinnitus. Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder and right ear hearing loss, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The examiner was asked to address whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's hearing loss began during service or is related to noise exposure in service.

The Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure. Service connection for diabetes mellitus II was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service, and the Veteran's current diagnosis cannot be linked to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions in the July 2018 remand. The Veteran's service personnel records and any outstanding VA treatment records are to be obtained, and an additional medical opinion is needed from the January/July 2019 VA audiologist.

Service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to deficiencies in the VA examination reports, specifically regarding the conversion of audiometric results from ASA standards to ISO-ANSI standards. The examiner is required to consider the Veteran's lay statements about his symptoms and experiences, as well as two medical treatises provided by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his presumed in-service acoustic trauma, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to noise exposure during active duty for training in the Army National Guard.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for right 2nd and 3rd finger lacerations, laceration scars, and peripheral neuropathy were denied. The rash of the scrotum was also denied.,Bilateral hearing loss disability was also denied.,Right hand peripheral neuropathy received a 20 percent rating from April 1971 through July 18, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the appellant's current hearing loss is not related to his military service due to lack of evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his current condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in service and is not presumed to have been incurred in service. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable. The case is remanded for additional development.,Service connection for a pulmonary disability and sleep apnea are both remanded due to incomplete development of the claims.,Service connection for sleep apnea, which may be secondary to service-connected PTSD, is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for further discussion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss.