Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board also found that, based on the evidence of record, including VA and private medical opinions, there is at least equipoise in favor of a finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his in-service acoustic trauma. Service connection was not granted for thoracolumbar spine condition or cervical spine condition as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was not a causal relationship between his in-service noise exposure and his current hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, bronchial asthma and COPD, rhinitis, bilateral pes planus, left knee PFPS, and PTSD. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and left knee PFPS have been remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right ear hearing loss, PTSD, and bilateral plantar fasciitis have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran has current diagnoses of these conditions and established a link between her in-service treatment and their development.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, alone, were not of sufficient severity to render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment. Therefore, TDIU was denied.

The Board has found the Veteran's hypertension service connection claim granted. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for left elbow disability, left carpal tunnel syndrome, sleep disorder, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus are remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and malignant melanoma due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and his credible testimony regarding potential exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The claims will be further evaluated with additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the inadequacy of previous audiometric evaluations and the need for a new examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has found that a rating in excess of this percentage is not warranted based on the audiometric test results.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, while his claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral eye conditions, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service onset or relationship to service.

The Board's decision in 1985 was revised to grant service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran had pre-existing profound hearing impairment and no increase during service. The appeal was reopened based on new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his back condition and service connection for bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes, and thus could not establish service connection.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and gunshot wound. The Veteran will need a new in-person hearing at his local RO.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is a result of noise exposure during his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection for Meniere’s disease and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is granted and remanded due to the need for a new VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected due to noise exposure during service.,Service connection for cerebral atrophy is denied because the evidence does not support a finding that it began in service or is related to an injury, disease, or event in service.