Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms have been continuous since service separation. The decision is based on presumptive service connection due to exposure to noise during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has competent and credible evidence to support his assertion that his tinnitus began during service. However, the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to a lack of VA audiological examination.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for myoglobinuria (chronic rhabdomyolysis), bilateral hearing loss, and a right hand disability. The Veteran was requested to provide updated VA treatment records from November 2016 onwards, complete SSA records related to his disability benefits, and undergo a new VA examination for his hearing loss.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition. However, due to conflicting medical opinions regarding his psychiatric disorder, the case is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability including Meniere's disease.

The Board has remanded the cases due to non-compliance with previous instructions and for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the other issues related to chest injury residuals, bilateral hearing loss, right leg disability, heart disability, and unspecified arthritis are remanded due to insufficient evidence or need for further development.

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of ischemic heart disease, liver cancer, psychiatric disorders (including anxiety and depression), and hearing loss have been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to schedule a new VA examination for hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the conditions had their onset during military service and are related to noise exposure in service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to adjudicate the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, major depressive disorder, and low back disability are remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess their current severity.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to an indication that his disability may have worsened since his last examination in July 2018. The Veteran will be provided with a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a heart disorder to include as due to Agent Orange exposure. The claims are being remanded because VA needs to obtain additional military records and conduct new examinations to determine if there is any relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss and a dental disability are denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection as it is presumed to be related to noise exposure during service. However, the Veteran's hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing impairment and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and traumatic brain injury.