Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and left ankle arthritis as the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been submitted in some cases, and additional VA treatment records have been added to his file. The Veteran will be provided a supplemental statement of the case if their benefits are not granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, so the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hearing loss was aggravated by service. The examiner should address the significance of the documented left ear auditory threshold shift and the right ear speech recognition score.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Tinnitus has been granted as the preponderance of the evidence supports its in-service onset and continuity.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision on COPD is based on asbestos exposure during service. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to the need for a current examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during his service in Thailand. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to address the Veteran's hypertension, coronary artery disease, and chronic peptic ulcer disease.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome was granted in a rating decision issued by the AOJ in December 2019, with an effective date of October 24, 2016. The appeal as to this condition is dismissed because it has been granted and rendered moot.

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 service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss on the basis of direct service connection due to in-service noise exposure, as there is no evidence of a pre-existing condition and continuous symptoms since service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as he does not meet the threshold element of a current disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,Service connection will be considered based on direct evidence rather than presumptive exposure or other theories.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his lower leg disabilities, right ear hearing loss, and left shoulder disability due to inadequate VA examinations and missing records. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations to determine if he has current diagnoses of these conditions and whether they are related to service.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals for certain claims and has remanded other claims due to new evidence or issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and Meniere's syndrome due to insufficient evidence in the record, including a need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) as they are rated at 60 percent combined, which is below the threshold of 70 percent required by VA regulations.

The Veteran's right ankle condition and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected.