Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss did not manifest within one year of separation and was not caused by or aggravated by his in-service noise exposure. The Board also found no evidence to support a secondary service connection claim based on his service-connected rhinitis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss have been reopened, but the Board has determined that more evidence is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded both issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and remanded the issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing whether it is secondary to a service-connected disability, specifically PTSD with major depressive disorder.,Service connection for a kidney disability and rheumatoid arthritis are both remanded as there was no opinion on whether these conditions were related to in-service herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis remains pending due to the need for an addendum opinion addressing its relationship to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, which may be related to service exposure. A new VA examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear mixed hearing loss disability, right ear sensorineural hearing loss disability, and tinnitus due to conflicting medical opinions and unclear statements in the December 2019 VA examination report.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 25, 2013 for posttraumatic stress disorder is denied.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss has been granted. The Veteran's pre-service right ear hearing loss was aggravated by service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability and that any hearing loss present during service did not result in a compensable degree of impairment.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left ear hearing loss, bilateral feet and ankles disability, and bilateral knee disabilities. The VA will obtain further medical opinions on these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability. The right knee and hypertension cases are remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that his condition does not warrant a higher evaluation based on the evidence of record.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for bilateral hearing loss. Tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of service connection for osteochondritis dissecans status post meniscus restoration surgery, left knee and degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and no medical opinion linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to in-service noise exposure. The claim will be reconsidered after an otolaryngologist provides a definitive opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his left-hand cyst and hernia scar, as well as for a rating determination on his service-connected hernia scar.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD is granted. The issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, and entitlement to a TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the underlying claims remain denied. The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in denying these claims.