Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as the Board finds that his current disability meets the criteria for presumptive service connection due to continuous post-service symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to conflicting evidence regarding current diagnoses and a need for clarification from a VA examiner.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the conditions had their onset during active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and his active duty service.,Service connection for tinnitus has also been denied, with the Board finding that the Veteran did not provide credible lay evidence linking his current condition to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety), a low back disorder, tinnitus, a foot disorder (plantar fasciitis), and hypertension. The reasons given were that there was no current disability meeting VA criteria for these conditions, or evidence of in-service injury or exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include as secondary to bilateral tinnitus.,Service connection is denied for headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, right ear hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus were not related to service, as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or continuity of symptoms.,PTSD was denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed stressors. Sleep apnea was denied because there is no evidence of a current disability that began during service.,Low back disorder and right-sided sciatica were not related to service, as there are no records indicating an in-service injury or chronic symptoms after separation.,Right ankle disorder was also not related to service, with the absence of any documented injuries or relevant symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, as well as residuals of damage to the eardrums. The Veteran's claim was based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The right ear hearing loss claim is remanded due to a lack of current disability.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a stroke and bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence to support the claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to potential new evidence.,Service connection is not granted for any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is etiologically related to his active service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a residual injury of the right foot with numbness, and a residual injury of the left foot with numbness. The Veteran did not have any current diagnoses of these conditions at the time of the decision.,The Board also denied service connection for hemorrhoids, kidney stones, residuals of left varicocele, and a cardiac disability (enlarged heart and sinus bradycardia). The Veteran did not have any current diagnoses of these conditions at the time of the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for ringworm, an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, and bilateral foot disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and granted service connection for this condition. The remaining issues, including those regarding low back strain, right knee patellar dislocation with chronic strain, limitation of flexion in the right knee, and hearing loss, are remanded due to outstanding VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current level of hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The claims for service connection have been reopened, but the cases are being remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus (DMII) and coronary artery disease (CAD) has been granted.,Service connection is also granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, with the presumption of exposure to herbicide agents in Korea.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a higher disability rating based on audiometric test results and the Veteran's reported troubles with hearing in noisy environments.