Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since April 15, 2015. The Board found that the July 2015 examination results should be considered as both ears were service connected for hearing loss at that time.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The rating for PTSD was also denied, as the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment. However, a TDIU was granted effective July 29, 2019.

Your appeals for service connection regarding bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is not related to his military service and there is no evidence of a compensable degree of hearing loss within one year following discharge.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for updated examinations and potentially outstanding VA and private treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for asbestosis, finding that the Veteran's exposure to asbestos during service is causally related to his current diagnosis. The other claims of service connection are remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, resulting in its dismissal.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The claims of entitlement to higher ratings for left shoulder strain and left knee strain are remanded.

The Veteran withdrew all of the issues on appeal, including those related to service connection for various disabilities. The Board has no further jurisdiction in these matters.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from December 1, 2005 to November 30, 2011. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to December 1, 2005.,The case is again before the Board for appellate consideration after being referred to the Director of Compensation Service for adjudication.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death, and the claim for service connection is moot.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability was dismissed because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The case is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's hearing loss. The issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, otitis media (left ear), cholera, tuberculosis, dysentery, hematuria, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not meet the current disability requirement for any of these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for scars status post staph aureus abscesses of the right arm and right infra axilla area. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection, with the latter being remanded due to lack of evidence regarding in-service stressor allegations.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted, as the evidence supports a finding that his current psychiatric disability is related to service.,Service connection was also granted for depression. The March 2019 VA examination report provided a competent and credible medical nexus between the Veteran’s current depressive disorder and his in-service head injuries and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and IBS, as he withdrew his appeals. The Board has also granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU has been dismissed as he is already receiving the maximum combined rating for his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence to support these conditions being related to his military noise exposure.