Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no valid diagnosis of a current disability.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he did not have a current disability, and the VA examiner found no evidence of hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and records.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability is remanded due to the need for an opinion on whether his current condition is related to service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for opinions on whether his sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, type 2, erectile dysfunction, and skin condition are related to service or a service-connected disability. The issues of service connection for melanoma and amputation of two toes on the left foot (claimed as due to melanoma) are also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for other specified trauma is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination, and his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability is remanded due to the need for opinions on whether his service-connected disabilities are related or aggravated by each other.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for opinions on whether his respiratory condition (COPD), sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, type 2, erectile dysfunction, and skin condition are related to service or a service-connected disability. The issues of service connection for melanoma and amputation of two toes on the left foot (claimed as due to melanoma) are also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service. The Veteran's claims were reopened due to new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (claimed as PTSD) has been reopened and granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board denied the petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left ear hearing loss disorder and also denied an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss disability. The Veteran's claims are pending before another panel of Veterans Law Judges.

The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.,Service connection for prostate cancer and ischemic heart disease (IHD) is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for readjudication of the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, including consideration of all relevant evidence submitted since the November 2019 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support such a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right elbow disability and his service, as well as whether it is related to or aggravated by his left elbow disability.

The Veteran's death was caused by papillary thyroid carcinoma, which is presumed to be related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran had a service-connected disability rated as 100% disabling for over ten years immediately preceding his death.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss has been reopened, and the case is remanded for further development. The Veteran's skin lesion in the right inguinal area also needs to be remanded for a new examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral arm disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as there was no evidence or argument linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (including anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder), and bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate VA examination reports and failure to comply with prior remand instructions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for throat cancer was previously denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to his active duty. The new evidence submitted includes VA progress notes, private treatment reports, and medical opinions indicating a possible link between the cancer and herbicide exposure during service.,The Veteran's claim for right ear hearing loss has not been reopened as there is no new or material evidence provided.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hyperacusis of the right ear, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, result in functional impairment that precludes him from maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a scar on the back of the head, and migraine headaches as these conditions are not shown to have been incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his skin disability claim was granted. His claims for service connection for a pulmonary disability, an eye disability, and hearing loss were denied on the merits. The Veteran's bladder cancer claim is remanded. Other issues are also remanded.