Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a link between his current hearing loss and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, skin cancer, and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records from his periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss prior to June 12, 2019, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter was denied. The evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, including his exposure to noise during service and any other relevant factors.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has not been manifested by hearing acuity worse than Level IV in the right ear and Level III in the left ear, resulting in a disability rating of 10 percent. The Board denied an increased rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of sinusitis, right shoulder condition, alopecia, and sleep disorder to include sleep apnea have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the appellant during his April 2019 hearing. The remaining claims are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of dental surgery (dental disorder), and psychiatric disorder were denied as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and a supplemental VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, and an increased rating for bell's palsy due to incomplete development. The Veteran was not provided a VA examination regarding his exposure to herbicide agents while stationed in Eglin Air Force Base, and there is no evidence indicating he was exposed to such agents.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection and exposure.

The Board has decided that there may be outstanding VA treatment records related to the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and remands the case for obtaining these records. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is now pending.

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

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and the extension of a temporary total evaluation beyond February 1, 2017 are both remanded due to inconsistencies in evidence and need for further clarification.

The Board has denied service connection for renal mass/kidney cancer and left ear hearing loss. The case is remanded to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's death was not due to his own willful misconduct, but the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 have not been met as he did not meet the total disability rating requirement.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 20 percent since December 21, 2015. The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for the entirety of the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to July 2, 2004 was denied. The claim for a 10 percent rating from July 2, 2004 to March 22, 2005 was granted. However, the claim for a higher rating than 20 percent after March 23, 2005 was denied.

The Board denied a disability rating for bilateral hearing loss in excess of 10 percent prior to June 3, 2017, and on an extraschedular basis after that date. The Veteran's non-hearing effects were fully compensated under the schedular rating criteria.