Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the claims of entitlement to higher initial ratings for hallux valgus and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to outstanding evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 100 percent effective June 21, 2016. SMC for deafness in both ears is also granted effective June 21, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded due to a need for clarification of the relationship between his in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to a lack of adequate medical opinion and consideration of lay assertions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder and an auditory condition are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in the original decision. The VA is required to provide a new examination to address the Veteran’s contentions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination in determining whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service. The Veteran claims he was exposed to loud noises during service and not post-service, but the VA examiner did not consider these statements.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and heart disability due to outstanding VA treatment records and additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied because the available medical evidence did not show diminished hearing acuity at a compensable level, and he failed to report for a necessary VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss as the Veteran does not have a current disability in either ear, and any conductive hearing loss found is not due to noise exposure during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that his education and work experience allow him to maintain substantially gainful employment despite his disability.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient reasoning in the original decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to non-compliance with previous directives.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The reduction in rating from 30 percent to 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss, effective February 1, 2018, was improper and is void ab initio; therefore, the appeal is granted.