Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for tinnitus, as secondary to left ear hearing loss. The case is now being returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, effective October 10, 2013. The decision resolves any doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension are remanded due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran is requested to undergo a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current diagnoses.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending due to remand.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his hearing loss disabilities, as well as his Osgood Schlatter disease. The issues include determining whether his current right ear hearing loss is related to service, whether his preexisting left ear hearing loss was aggravated by service, and whether he should be provided another VA examination for his Osgood Schlatter disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for both conditions.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand several claims for further evaluation, including a new VA examination for bilateral hearing loss and additional medical records for other conditions.

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

The Board has remanded the cases of increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension secondary to PTSD, and migraine headaches secondary to PTSD due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The claims will be addressed again with additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the VA not having obtained all necessary audiometric test results from his May 2019 VA audiology appointment.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of rating PTSD, right mid back shrapnel fragment wound residuals, and left volar forearm shrapnel fragment wound residuals.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his heart condition, including valvular heart disease, is related to service. The claim for hearing loss remains denied.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to a pre-decisional error.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a bilateral knee disability, a left foot disability, and a left shoulder disability as there is no evidence of these conditions during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to hazardous noise exposure during service.,The Veteran's bladder cancer is related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding increased initial rating for bilateral hearing loss and whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of service connection for right upper extremity neuropathy. The Veteran's claims for service connection for brain cancer and lung cancer are remanded due to procedural errors.