Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board denied an initial compensable rating.,The Veteran's service-connected tinea pedis was also rated as noncompensable, and the Board denied a higher rating.,For degenerative joint disease of the left first metacarpal, the Veteran is not entitled to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.,Regarding hypertension, the Veteran does not have service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not have a hearing loss or tinnitus during service or within one year of separation. The Board also found that there was no evidence of noise exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and cirrhosis of the liver due to additional development being needed, including obtaining medical opinions and verifying exposures.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, depression, anxiety, psychosis, and insomnia) is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ear sensorineural hearing loss disability is related to service, resolving doubt in his favor.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a stapedectomy, finding no current residuals other than the Veteran's already service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as entitlement to a TDIU prior to February 4, 2019, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Board also found that any current hearing loss disability and tinnitus are less likely related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran experienced acoustic trauma during service and has had continuous symptoms since then. The decision is based on presumptive service connection due to exposure to loud noises.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, sleep apnea, and hypertension. The decision is based on direct service connection due to in-service noise exposure, a current service-connected respiratory disorder, and a current psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA treatment records, which may support the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of left ear hearing loss, back disorder, and respiratory disorder due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and compensable ratings for his left ear hearing loss and right ear hearing loss, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss disability due to outstanding records and need for additional examinations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss may be related to service, but needs further medical evidence to support this conclusion.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates on various service connection claims have been withdrawn.,All issues of increased ratings and TDIU have also been withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's exposure to noise during service is conceded, but further examination is needed to determine if his current conditions are related to that exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as the evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

Your claims for service connection for a back disability, bilateral foot disability, and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed as the appeal is moot due to the grant of service connection for your back disability.