Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for a painful chest wall scar, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims are based on direct evidence of in-service incurrence.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, finding that his service-connected conditions did not contribute to his death. The evidence showed no severe cardiac symptoms or episodes prior to death and the autopsy and death certificates indicated pulmonary complications as the immediate cause of death.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee condition, and right knee condition is remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining inpatient treatment records from his active duty periods and providing an addendum medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, right knee meniscal tear with instability, and right knee osteoarthritis with chondromalacia. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

Entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for fractured distal radius of the right wrist with traumatic arthritis and scar was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5215.,For left ear hearing loss prior to July 25, 2019, an initial compensable disability rating was denied. Since July 25, 2019, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as Level I in both ears.,Both issues were denied due to lack of evidence supporting higher ratings.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in service and is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for higher disability ratings for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss was denied as the maximum schedular rating has already been assigned.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss on an extraschedular basis prior to May 9, 2018 and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter. The decision found that the Veteran’s hearing loss was fully contemplated by the rating schedule.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, and right knee disability as the evidence did not show a current disability or link to military service.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of cholecystectomy was denied due to lack of fault on the part of VA and unforeseeable events. The service connection claims for gastrointestinal disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were all denied as there is no evidence of chronic conditions in service or within presumptive periods.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to insufficient recent examination records and the need for updated assessments of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for a new opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete opinions from a VA audiologist regarding their etiology. The case must be returned for an addendum opinion by another ear disease specialist.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was not enough evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, except for the reopening of a low back disability claim and granting of service connection for a right testicular condition. Other conditions remain denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The remaining claims of increased ratings for COPD, neck scar, and service connection for left ear hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum opinion. The Veteran's claims for service connection are not granted as there is no evidence of a claim prior to December 12, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened due to new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for this condition based on exposure to herbicide agents during service at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand. The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Board denied service connection for Parkinson's disease, diabetes mellitus, and a heart condition due to herbicide exposure. Service connection was granted for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart failure. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not found to be related to his active duty service.