Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the case for further examination regarding bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and diabetes mellitus due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's hearing loss disability is suspected but not confirmed, and his exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam needs further verification.

The Veteran's right wrist disorder and bilateral hearing loss claims have been dismissed.,Initial evaluations of 10 percent for service-connected right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (RKPFS) and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (LKPFS) are granted.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not meet the criteria for such determinations.

The Board has granted service connection for Barrett's esophagus, duodenal ulcer, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that his hearing impairment warranted a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development to obtain relevant medical records, including from a mandatory hearing conservation program during the Veteran's civilian career. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that these conditions had onset in or are otherwise related to active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is considered service-connected as it began during his military service and has continued since then.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and headaches and confusion associated with it due to the appellant's request for withdrawal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral ankle condition and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for tinnitus and hearing loss as further development is needed, including obtaining missing service records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, ischemic heart disease (IHD), and diabetes mellitus, type II. The decision on these matters is pending further action by VA.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with no worse than level I hearing in the right ear and level VIII hearing in the left ear. The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and right shoulder disability are all granted service connection. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is remanded for a rating determination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and hearing loss of the right ear were denied. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of a valid audiogram, and requests that another VA examination be conducted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and pes planus. The evidence did not meet the criteria for hearing loss under VA regulations, and there was no nexus between the Veteran’s tinnitus and military noise exposure. The preexisting pes planus was also found to have not been aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to the Veteran's back disability, including a request for TDIU. The decision is not final and will be reconsidered after addressing the rating issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, vertigo (claimed as dizziness), and a low back disability due to incomplete medical opinions and factual inaccuracies in previous decisions.