Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient reasoning in the previous decision and the need for a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, left ear hearing loss disability, and right ear hearing loss disability are being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical opinions and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease, diabetes mellitus, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all denied. The Board found that the current conditions do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a heart disability, thyroid disability, diabetes mellitus, bone loss, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder. The Veteran will be provided an SSOC if their benefits are not granted.

The Board found no evidence to support a connection between the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and her active duty or Reserve service, including training exercises. The decision denied service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service noise exposure resulting in a compensable degree of hearing loss. The Board also found insufficient medical opinion to establish a nexus between any current hearing loss and service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service and granted service connection for it. However, the hearing loss claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The VA examiner is requested to provide a new opinion on whether the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss was caused by or otherwise etiologically related to his active service, including conceded in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his exposure to acoustic trauma during military service.

The Board has decided that the VA's decision on the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was not thorough enough, requiring a new examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection.,Service connection for the right hand condition (neuropathy) is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 40 percent from June 1, 2017 until October 7, 2019. The rating is denied for a higher disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the issues of service connection for a headache condition, left ankle condition, low back condition, and scar on right eye.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, nasal disorder (deviated septum), and obstructive sleep apnea have all been denied. The Board found that the medical evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation for any of these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence of a nexus between current hearing loss or tinnitus and military service, including exposure to noise. The Veteran's post-service occupational noise exposure was considered in determining that the disabilities are not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of a TDIU.

The Veteran's death by suicide was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 as he did not have a total disability rating due to service-connected conditions for at least ten years prior to his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss disability are dismissed as the appeal was not properly placed in the modernized review system.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back disability, hypertension, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy related to his back disability, prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the TDIU rating.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as left and right upper extremity disabilities. Service connection for lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding aggravation.