Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to a factual inaccuracy in the VA audiological examination, and the need for a supplemental opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to incomplete STRs and personnel records, as well as inadequate VA examinations. The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, his claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied as he does not meet the VA standards for a current disability.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, elbow disorder, wrist disorder, hip disorder, knee disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder (other than right ankle sprain), shoulder disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and service.,The Veteran's claim for a cervical spine disorder has also been remanded as no VA examination addressing the direct or secondary theory of entitlement was conducted.,His claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for shin splints, left leg and right leg have been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) due to lack of new and material evidence for the hearing loss claim, insufficient evidence linking the disabilities to service, and no current disability found for the psychiatric disorder.

The Board has vacated its May 20, 2020 decision remanding the Veteran's claim of service connection for hearing loss due to his death prior to a final decision. The appeal is dismissed as the Veteran died before a final decision could be made.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss disability, and dizziness. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service noise exposure leading to current disabilities.,There is no evidence of a current disability related to tinnitus or hearing loss disability, and there was no indication of a relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete audiometric test results and unclear speech discrimination testing. A new VA examination is needed to assess the current nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 30, 2018 was denied.,For the period from October 30, 2018 onwards, the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected residuals of a thoracic spine scar was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show three or four scars that were unstable or painful, and therefore, a higher rating could not be granted. For the TDIU claim prior to July 19, 2017, the Veteran's disabilities rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to May 27, 2011 and from October 1, 2011.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was not enough evidence to support a finding of disability or a link between his active duty service and his conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left thumb injury was denied.,Service connection for cardiovascular disability and bilateral hearing loss were both denied as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.,No effective date provided.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's fatal esophageal cancer was related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam and whether his heart disease contributed to his death. The claim will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The appeal for an initial compensable rating prior to October 3, 2018 and a rating in excess of 20 percent therefrom for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, tumor of the ear/brain, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including cardiovascular disorder, anxiety disorder, depression, sleep apnea (OSA), skin disorder, neurological disorder, scleroderma, hearing loss, bone atrophy, and vision disorder. The decision found no evidence of these conditions during or immediately after service, and did not find a link to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology. The case will be sent back for further examination and an addendum opinion from a different examiner.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma.