Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases for a new opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including in-service noise exposure and boxing history.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss. The Veteran's hearing loss was not shown to be related to active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right knee disorder, a left knee disorder, and a neck disorder. The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence showing current disability.,Service connection is not granted for heart disease beyond cerebrovascular accident as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable prior to September 27, 2019, and 10 percent thereafter. The claim for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran’s painful surgical scar, status post left total knee replacement, was granted an initial 10 percent disability rating prior to October 28, 2019. The claim for a higher disability rating from that date forward is denied.,The Veteran's hypertension has not been manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more, and thus does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable disability rating.,The Veteran’s service-connected painful surgical scar was rated as noncompensable prior to October 28, 2019. The claim for a higher disability rating from that date forward is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinea pedis (including tinea unguium).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability in accordance with VA standards.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss. The issue of service connection for prostate condition is remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining authorization to obtain private treatment records related to his kidney condition. The AOJ must also consider all pertinent STRs in the low back condition case.

The Board has decided that the claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, but his vertigo is not.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus has been granted. Service connection for vertigo was denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that it is etiologically related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability has been rated at a noncompensable level since December 2009. The Board found that the current rating of 0% is appropriate based on the audiometric test results.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is being remanded for a supplemental VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder as the evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) as the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of these conditions or establish their relationship to active duty service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from Fort Lewis dated in or around July 1995.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's complete service treatment and personnel records, including Reserve service records. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation from October 1, 2013 to March 1, 2017.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss disability and migraine headaches for additional development. The Veteran's service connection claims are pending.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the appellant requested withdrawal prior to a decision being made.