Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of prostate cancer (claimed as due to herbicide exposure in Thailand), decreased bladder control associated with residuals of prostate cancer, and impotence associated with residuals of prostate cancer. The Veteran is required to provide details about his alleged in-service herbicide exposure and VA will attempt to verify this exposure. Additionally, the Veteran needs to be afforded a VA examination for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability and that any hearing loss did not have onset in service or within one year of separation from service. The Board also found that the Veteran's testimony regarding in-service symptoms was not credible.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. The right ear hearing loss claim is remanded for further examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The heart disorder claim is also remanded due to inadequate examination.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity that they preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, the left knee disability is not service-connected, and the hearing loss and tinnitus are also not service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether it was incurred during service. Service connection for tinnitus remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for reopening and granting service connection for left knee disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss has been granted. The claims for respiratory disorder, colon disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are remanded due to outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition (PTSD), tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss are all granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his current hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting opinions on whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service. Additional development, including an addendum opinion from a VA examiner, is needed.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right-ear hearing loss and service connection for his left-ear hearing impairment are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including a VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetes mellitus, prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service and assigning no rating.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus effective October 12, 2017. The Veteran's original claims were denied in April 2014 but the appeal was not perfected until October 17, 2017 when he filed a petition to reopen his claim.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hand disability and right wrist disability (claimed as right hand disability), other than mallet finger, little finger.,Service connection was also granted for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for service-connected left ear hearing loss is denied. The Veteran has not met the criteria for a higher disability rating based on his current level of hearing impairment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable. The Board finds the VA examination inadequate and remands for an updated opinion regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, which may be secondary to diabetes mellitus.