Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss. Right, tinnitus, lumbar spine, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure. The decision does not address left ear hearing loss or bilateral tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability during or within one year after service and concluding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right foot neuropathy, but the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded due to a need for an addendum opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis C, an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to outstanding VA treatment records and potential private treatment records. A VA examination is also required for these claims.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's low back disability and bilateral hearing loss are related to his military service, including exposure to noise from tank operations.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent, but no higher. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and deviated nasal septum due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology, particularly given his service exposure to loud noises. The Veteran will need VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus may be related to service exposure, but more evidence is needed for a definitive determination.

The Board has decided that a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss disability arose during service or is related to service, including as due to conceded noise exposure from his MOS. The examiner must consider the Veteran's assertion about accelerated hearing loss and provide a fully reasoned explanation.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to July 12, 2016 and 70 percent from July 12, 2016 onwards. The Veteran was granted a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss. Service connection was established for the lumbar spine disorder as secondary to PTSD with depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder.

The Veteran's pleurisy claim was not reopened, COPD service connection was denied, and right ear hearing loss service connection was denied. Right hip disability and right ankle disability secondary to service-connected bilateral foot disability are remanded for further review.,Right hip disability and right ankle disability secondary to service-connected bilateral foot disability are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance and/or housebound status due to service-connected disabilities, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding of regular aid and attendance or permanent housebound status solely as a result of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has been reopened and granted.,A compensable disability rating (30%) is granted for bilateral hearing loss.,A disability rating in excess of 70 percent prior to July 27, 2016 for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined disability ratings of 80 percent.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not begin during service and was not attributable to service. The preponderance of evidence supported this conclusion.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was granted, with the Board finding that his symptoms are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine prior to August 31, 2018 or since then. Service connection was also denied for umbilical hernia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), right elbow strain, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee, and hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 0 percent for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.