Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is related to the Veteran's noise exposure during his active duty service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and diabetes mellitus, type II are granted service connection. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis (claimed as lower lumbar condition), right foot condition, and left foot condition is denied.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is granted. Service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis (claimed as lower lumbar condition), right foot condition, and left foot condition is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the remaining issues due to a need for further examination and development.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus is related to his active duty service. The other claims for bilateral hearing loss and erectile dysfunction were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or a relationship between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as it was shown to be related to service. The Veteran's tinnitus is also granted, with the opinion that it began during active service.,Service connection for left knee tendonitis and obstructive sleep apnea (secondary to PTSD) are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral eye disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and left ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,Additionally, the claim for TDIU prior to August 27, 2018 is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, right hip synovitis, meralgia paresthetica of the lower extremities, degenerative arthritis with spondylosis of the lumbar spine, and chronic headaches have been granted. The claim for service connection for hearing loss has been denied. The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, alcohol use disorder, and major depression have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the TDIU claim is granted. The DEA claim is remanded for further consideration.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and back disability (other than degenerative arthritis of the spine with spinal stenosis) have been granted service connection.,Both conditions are considered to be related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, thus granting his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is now remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of service connection for a right hand condition, left index finger condition, and hemorrhoids are remanded for further development.

The appeal for service connection for bilateral pseudophakia and macula scar is dismissed. The appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, but the claims are remanded due to need for a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including hearing loss, foot disability, hypertension, left varicocele, and allergies. Additional development is needed to obtain treatment records for some conditions, as well as to provide new VA examinations and medical opinions.

Service connection for GERD is granted. A rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss disability prior to June 11, 2018 is denied and a compensable rating thereafter is also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and traumatic brain injury, but has remanded his claim for degenerative disc disease lumbar spine.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. However, his TDIU claim is remanded to the Director of Compensation Services for extraschedular consideration due to his employment history and vocational consultant opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has ordered a new examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current hearing loss disability, as previous examinations were inadequate. The examiner must address arguments and medical literature submitted by the Veteran and his representative regarding similar cases.