Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to new evidence received. His bilateral hearing loss claim is reopened, but additional development is needed. The compensable rating and increased rating claims are also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cervical fusion and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of December 28, 2011.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee strain, prostate cancer, and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence supporting a causal relationship with his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a motion for review of attorney fees, and the issue of whether the fee is reasonable will be referred to the Office of General Counsel.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information in the April 2018 VA examination regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The examiner provided a negative nexus opinion for the Veteran’s diagnosed bilateral hearing loss, but failed to address his conceded military noise exposure.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of lower back disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, and pseudofolliculitis barbae as the Veteran passed away during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete audiogram results from the Atlanta VAMC. The VA is required to obtain and associate with the Veteran’s file any pertinent medical records, including audiological results conducted at the Atlanta VAMC.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for post-concussive headaches, but dismissed the claims for tinnitus and scar on chest. The remaining issues have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his exposure to acoustic trauma during military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a tremor disorder. For the period from September 24, 2018, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable (0%). The Board found no evidence of chronic symptoms or continuous since service, nor did it find any nexus between the current essential tremor and active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate opinion in the August 2013 VA examination report.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, respiratory disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to potential service connection issues. The Veteran is seeking service connection based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam, but the evidence does not support such a presumption.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of left ear hearing loss due to outstanding VA examinations. The Veteran's willingness to participate in future exams is noted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, as well as right and left shoulder disorders due to incomplete records. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss in either ear by VA standards, and therefore service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hearing loss was denied as the audiometric findings did not support a higher rating, with the preponderance of evidence against the claim from January 15, 2019.

The Board previously denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but new evidence has been submitted that supports a link to in-service noise exposure. The claim is reopened and the Veteran's VA treatment records must be obtained.

Major depressive disorder has been granted service connection and is rated at 70 percent.,Service connection for sinusitis has been granted. The Veteran was treated for sinusitis during active service.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD is denied, but his claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted. The case is remanded to obtain a VA examination for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.