Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent since January 17, 2019. The appeal for higher ratings on this issue and service connection for other conditions are denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.,Ear infections and vertigo are also being remanded for further development as the VA examiner’s opinion is insufficient.,Tuberculosis, COPD, and hypertension secondary to PTSD/Hypothyroidism are being remanded due to incomplete or conflicting evidence.,Hypertension is being remanded because of a lack of information regarding fuel fume exposure in service.,The Veteran's hypothyroidism is being remanded as there is insufficient evidence linking it to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information from a previous VA examination and missing audiometric test results. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to February 10, 2020, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is now pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back injury has been granted. His bilateral hearing loss and right-hand fracture have been rated at the maximum available rating of 10 percent.

The Board denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no increase in severity of the condition since the effective date of service connection and that a disability rating in excess of 40 percent is not warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but the tinnitus claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the period prior to July 22, 2011.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The decision also notes that the Veteran’s sleep apnea is remanded for further examination.,Regarding arthritis in the hips and shoulders, the Veteran was asked to provide medical evidence showing a current disability and lay testimony linking it to military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the appellant's request for withdrawal of all issues in the appeal.

The Veteran's TDIU is granted for the period prior to March 10, 2014 due to his service-connected PTSD preventing him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

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 impairment. The Veteran did not have hearing loss during service or within one year after separation, and post-service medical records do not show continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed as there was no formal or informal claim prior to May 30, 2017.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for malignant melanoma and right chest scar are denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether his current hearing loss disability is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further consideration of his claim for a higher rating for corneal abrasion right eye, specifically considering whether he should be rated separately for dry eye syndrome.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as incurred in service. The cervical spine and bilateral hearing loss disabilities are remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for arthritis and a cyst due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran's hearing loss is not considered a disability for VA purposes, and muscle atrophy is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and bilateral hearing loss as the appellant withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss was denied as the earliest possible effective date is August 11, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to new evidence received since the last denial, which suggests a link between his current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure. The case is also referred back for a VA medical opinion on whether the Veteran's pre-existing left ear hearing loss was aggravated by active service.