Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and dismissed the claim for bilateral hearing loss. The right wrist injury and back injury claims are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hearing loss and tinnitus due to noise exposure during service. The decision is based on incomplete medical records and a need for a new VA examination.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right ear hearing loss; individual unemployability (TDIU); increased evaluations for service-connected tinnitus; and earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for residuals of a cyst (claimed as a cyst on the tail bone) and for tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition as there is no current diagnosis or persistent symptoms related to these conditions.

Service connection for arthritis of the left hip, status post replacement is granted. An initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. Service connection for insomnia and chronic fatigue syndrome are remanded. Service connection for a respiratory disorder (allergic rhinitis) is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus on a presumptive basis due to noise exposure in service, as the Veteran reported continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied because he does not have a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and the evidence does not support that it prevents him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and mild degenerative disc disease at the lumbosacral junction, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss began in service and is related to his military duties, granting service connection for this condition.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The Board found that there is no medical evidence linking his current bilateral hearing loss to his active military service.

The Board denied service connection for cause of death due to the lack of evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus either principally or contributorily caused his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to outstanding VA and Social Security Administration records that need to be obtained for a complete review.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his active duty service. The decision is based on credible evidence of in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The most severe hearing impairment has been rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as the evidence shows a current disability and in-service noise exposure, with no clear medical opinion against a nexus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable disability rating, as his pure tone thresholds do not meet the criteria for an exceptional pattern of hearing impairment under VA regulations. The noncompensable rating is assigned based on the average pure tone threshold in both ears.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded it due to new evidence. The claim for secondary service connection for imbalance disorder is also being remanded as there are conflicting medical opinions regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hearing loss was denied as the audiometric findings during the appeal period do not support a compensable rating.