Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to service, specifically noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have right ear hearing loss that constitutes a disability for VA compensation purposes. The left ear hearing loss was not manifest in service or within one year of separation from service, and is not otherwise related to service.,The issue of entitlement to service connection for a left ankle disability is remanded due to lack of clarity regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current diagnosis.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a combined 10% rating for multiple noncompensable disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss is not related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left total knee replacement) are found to be of sufficient severity to render him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions were incurred during military service.

The claims of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss and right ear hearing loss are being remanded for additional development due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, and hemorrhoids have been granted service connection. The Veteran is also awarded a rating of 20 percent for his bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for a cervical spine disability and service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The cervical spine disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, with no evidence of forward flexion limited to less than 30 degrees or IVDS. Bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for VA purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for trauma and stressor-related disorder, but remanded other claims due to incomplete information regarding duty dates and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated at 40 percent since February 16, 2017. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating and denied his claim for an increased rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is sufficient evidence to establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus is due to service, and his lumbosacral strain first manifested during active service. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened with the submission of new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss and insufficient evidence to establish a link between left ear hearing loss and military service.

The appeal of the issue of service connection for dizziness is dismissed. Service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are granted. The issues of service connection for a bilateral knee disability, hypertension, and headaches are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable prior to March 11, 2019 and 20 percent from that date. The claim for hypertension has been remanded due to the need for a VA examination.,Service connection for rosacea was granted with a 10 percent rating effective February 8, 2018. The Veteran is seeking an increased rating.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss may be related to service, but needs further examination and evidence to determine this.