Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD, cannot be granted due to the lack of verified in-service stressor.

The Veteran's tinnitus and right knee disorder are granted service connection, but his bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further review.

The appeal to reopen a claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral tinnitus and hypertension is granted, while entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as schizophrenia or depression) is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right ear hearing loss, finding that it was incurred during active service due to noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and exposure to herbicides are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and information.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his military service, and thus grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence submitted after certification, and the need for clarification of service dates and duty status. The Veteran's hearing loss may be related to her military service, but more records are needed to determine this.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for acne, a noncompensable rating for pulmonary embolism (also diagnosed as sleep apnea) from May 29, 2014 to November 22, 2015, and a 30 percent rating thereafter is denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, epidermal inclusion cyst of the vulva, endometriosis, benign neoplasms of the breast (claimed as bilateral breast pain), and skin infection of the legs and buttocks are all denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) for need of aid and attendance. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Board has decided that the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus need further examination and must be remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are attributable to his military service.

The Board has recharacterized the appellant's claim as one for service connection, because his periods of ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA service render him at least potentially eligible for VA benefits. The AOJ should confirm the dates of his service and provide an examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed right ear tumor.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all claims related to service connection for various conditions, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, depression (previously claimed as nervous disorder), skin rash/fungus, left leg disorder, right leg disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disorder.

The Veteran's service connection claims for low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, asthma, diabetes mellitus, right knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for a right eye disability due to lack of evidence meeting VA criteria for hearing loss or visual impairment.

The Veteran's service connection for a headache disability is denied as the headaches are considered manifestations of his service-connected sinusitis.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted, with the Board finding that it is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of his bilateral hearing loss is denied as the earliest effective date he is entitled to is June 11, 2018, the date of his claim to reopen.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a hearing disability during or within one year after service. The VA examiner concluded that the current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, including as due to exposure to herbicide agents, is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that his hearing loss meets VA's auditory threshold criteria.