Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD renders him unemployable due to service-connected disability, and thus grants a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to November 14, 2019, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter. The evidence did not support finding that the current disabilities were related to service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and blurry vision have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,For the right shoulder disability, the claim has been remanded due to insufficient medical evidence regarding flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete development and new evidence added since the last statement of the case.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to a TDIU due to service-connected bilateral hearing loss for further development and adjudication by the RO.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure likely resulted in some acoustic trauma during his Vietnam service.,For tinnitus, the Board found it at least as likely as not related to service-connected right and left ear hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a lumbosacral or cervical strain, claiming as back soreness. The Veteran did not meet the threshold requirements for hearing loss under VA regulations and there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to his claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss of the left ear, finding that his preexisting condition did not worsen during military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right ear hearing loss due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran's hearing loss is being evaluated again as part of this process.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss have been granted service connection.,Service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted as it was incurred during his military service. The Board found that there was an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether the current cervical spine disability is related to his in-service injury.,The Veteran's left ear hearing loss has been granted service connection based on noise exposure during service, despite a VA examiner stating it was less likely than not caused by service. The Board found that there was an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether the current left ear hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss has been denied as he does not meet the criteria for a disability under VA standards, despite his contentions and service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim. The Veteran's in-service noise exposure is considered credible, and his current bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be related to this exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and left shoulder disorder. Bilateral hearing loss is considered incurred in service due to continuity of symptoms, while COPD and left shoulder disorder are not considered incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran reported noise exposure in service, but the medical opinion is insufficient given this information.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection.,Both conditions are related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied left ear hearing loss. The decision is based on the evidence being in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error regarding the right ear hearing loss disability. The Veteran's service connection claim for this condition is being reviewed again.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance of another person, but he does not meet the criteria for SMC based on housebound status.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.