Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and noise exposure during active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The effective date of this decision is not specified.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and right knee disability are denied, but the Veteran receives a higher rating for left knee instability.

The appeal for service connection for plantar fibromatosis is dismissed. The appeals to reopen claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, but the issues are remanded on the merits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, genitourinary disability (enlarged prostate), and skin disorder due to inadequate medical opinions. The issues are related to whether these conditions are service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and therefore denied his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability is granted as his preexisting condition was aggravated during active duty training.,Service connection is also granted for the Veteran's left knee disability, with the opinion being in favor of aggravation beyond natural progression.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as his current diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss, bilaterally, was established by competent and credible evidence. The Board found that the continuity of symptomatology from service to present supports a finding of in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's right shoulder degenerative arthritis is granted as service-connected.,There is no evidence to support the claim for left knee strain, and it is denied.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss.,Tinnitus is also granted as a service-connected condition.,Residual scars from the right shoulder are secondary to degenerative arthritis and are granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current disability. The claim for left ear hearing loss was granted with a presumption of soundness at entry into service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient development of evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's notice of disagreement was timely filed, and thus the appeal is granted. The RO denied service connection for hearing loss, PTSD, and depression but granted a 10% rating for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a diagnosis of PTSD related to in-service stressors.,Service connection was denied for left knee disability, right index finger disability, bilateral hearing loss, and skin disorder (claimed as left arm abscess).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and tinnitus, have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to December 2012. The case is being remanded for further review by the Director of Compensation Service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran was exposed to loud noise during active duty, but there is no current disability of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus for VA purposes.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and remanded the issues of service connection for low back disability and a rating in excess of 10 percent for left hip degenerative joint disease. The case is being returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for a neck condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new and material evidence. However, further development is needed regarding the Veteran's claims for heart disease, type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's left knee disability. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus have been denied as new and material evidence was not received. Service connection for a right knee disability is also denied. The issue of individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities has been dismissed.