Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to conflicting evidence regarding their onset and relationship to service.,Service connection cannot be established as there is no credible evidence of a nexus between current hearing loss or tinnitus and service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's reported onset during active service is credible. However, it denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence linking the condition to active service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, major depressive disorder, hypothyroidism, diverticulitis, and cervical spine disability. The claim to reopen the lumbar spine disability was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the right ear hearing loss rating claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the absence of recent audiological examination records that could help determine if his stroke has impacted his hearing more than his in-service injury.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are proximately due to noise exposure during military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 10 percent prior to January 9, 2019 and remains at 10 percent after that date. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the conditions are at least as likely as not due to active duty service.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 13, 2015 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The decision is based on a completed application form received within one year of receipt of the intent to file a claim.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure, and whether it is related to his service-connected tinnitus. The decision grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his complete service personnel records and conducting stressor development. The case will also be reviewed to determine if the Veteran has a current psychiatric disorder due to service.

The Veteran's hearing loss was rated as noncompensable (0%) from April 8, 2015 to September 26, 2017. The Board found no evidence of worsening in the period and denied an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the VA Hearing Loss and Tinnitus Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) opinions are inadequate, and thus remanded for further examination and opinion. The Veteran is required to provide a new etiology opinion regarding his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected due to exposure to noise during active duty.

The Board has withdrawn several issues from the Veteran's appeal, including those related to loss of smell, taste, chloracne, psychiatric disability (PTSD), respiratory disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and burn scars of the hands. The remaining issues have been remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn by the appellant and his representative, thus dismissing the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, which may be related to service exposure to loud noise and artillery fire.