Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also denied because his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals. The Board has also remanded several issues including sleep apnea, lower back disability, and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a respiratory disorder (claimed as COPD) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or entitlement to higher ratings for GERD, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, left ear hearing loss, and acquired flatfoot with plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has not been shown to be more than Level III in his right ear and Level II in his left ear, which warrants a noncompensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to in-service acoustic trauma, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, left knee disability, and OSA have been denied. The case is remanded for further evaluation of the left knee disability and for a VA examination to assess the Veteran's OSA.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, bilateral foot condition, and skin cancer as a result of herbicide exposure. The decision concluded that the Veteran did not have chronic conditions in service or within presumptive periods, and there was no evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his exposure to acoustic trauma during active service. The decision also reopened the claim due to new and material evidence.

Service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss is granted.,Service connection for valvular heart disease is denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 2, 2018, and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter was denied. The Board found that the audiometric findings did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, fracture of the left shin, and left ankle injury residuals. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these issues.,The Veteran's tinnitus claim remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board finds no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria for hearing loss, and the Veteran has not provided sufficient credible evidence to establish service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to additional pertinent medical records and lay statements being associated with his case after previous Statements of the Case (SOCs). The Veteran was requested to provide a waiver for AOJ review, but instead requested that his case be sent back to the AOJ. The Board will issue an SSOC considering all evidence obtained since the last SOC.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to his military service, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an initial compensable evaluation, as his audiometric findings consistently equate to Level I hearing in both ears.