Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between her current hearing loss and military service.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for service-connected left ear hearing loss on an extra-schedular basis, prior to January 11, 2005, due to deficiencies in the medical opinion provided. The Veteran is required to provide additional information and evidence, and VA must attempt to obtain any outstanding private medical records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, migraines, left knee degenerative joint disease and tendonitis/tendinosis, right shoulder disability, right hip disability, and bilateral leg disability (knees, left hip) have been granted service connection. The Veteran's arm condition/tingling is not considered a separate issue as it is related to the left shoulder.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent effective June 20, 2013. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The decision found that there was no evidence of a current disability, or any in-service event or injury related to these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss based on new and material evidence. The case is remanded to determine if there is a link between the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and his current hearing loss, as well as to decide on the compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a bilateral eye disorder to include glaucoma and cataracts due to lack of VA examination and medical opinion.

The Board dismissed the claim of service connection for a low back disability due to the Veteran's withdrawal in writing. The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left knee disorder due to incomplete service records and inadequate VA examinations. Clarification on the exact nature of the Veteran's military service is needed, as well as obtaining her complete STRs from reserve service periods. Further examination by a VA examiner is required to assess the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, bilateral knee disabilities, lumbar spine disability, bilateral foot condition (toe condition), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, left leg laceration, LUE peripheral neuropathy, and DMII have been denied.,No new evidence has been provided to support the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection claims for various conditions, as well as a claim for hypertension. The Veteran's tinnitus and back disability are presumed related to his active service, while the other conditions have not been shown to be directly related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating from April 21, 2017 and prior to that date.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss was granted as the evidence is at least in equipoise that he has a currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss disability during the appellate period and it had onset during service.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,The Veteran's left hip replacement is service connected.,Service connection for the right hip condition, secondary to the left hip replacement, is denied.

The Veteran's adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his Vietnam service.

The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss from April 25, 2017, finding that the Veteran's hearing impairment warranted only a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an infectious disease of unknown origin and bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Veteran does not have a current disability that can be characterized as an infectious disease, and his hearing acuity has been rated at 10% since May 5, 2016.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the case for further development regarding bilateral hearing loss.