Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has granted an effective date of October 15, 2015 for the grant of a 10 percent rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's disability met the criteria for this rating as of that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for various conditions, including shrapnel wounds of the left leg and back, liver condition, bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, adrenal gland cyst, and thyroid disease. The evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening any of these claims.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for a neck condition and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for low back pain condition, left ankle condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to the need for updated medical records and examinations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right foot disability (claimed as right toe crush injury) due to lack of evidence showing the disabilities were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, and the cases are remanded for further evaluation of other claimed conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence to support these claims. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible testimony regarding his exposure to noise during service and continuity of symptoms since service.

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

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, scars as residuals of hernia surgery, a dental condition, a lower back condition, and a left foot condition. Service connection was granted for PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, gastrointestinal disorder, and sleep disability. The decision also denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for asthma.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current diagnosed disability that was incurred in or caused by service.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure likely contributed to his current condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's neck disability. The service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or etiology related to his military service. The Board noted that the Veteran did not have significant threshold shifts during his active duty and that post-service treatment records showed normal clinical evaluations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, which may be related to service or post-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, his right ear hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, and he receives a 20 percent rating for left ankle strain.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and his military service.