Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss has been rated at 40 percent since September 1, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The Board finds the Veteran has bilateral hearing loss, but remands for further audiometric testing to determine if it meets VA criteria and whether related to service. Service connection for left knee disorder is granted, while right knee disorder remains unresolved.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, and right wrist disorder due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and his active military service, specifically his role as an ammunition technician. The Veteran contends that his hearing loss is related to noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as his combined service-connected disability rating does not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and he has provided evidence that his hearing loss makes it difficult to find employment. The case will be referred to VA’s Director, Compensation Service, for consideration of whether an extraschedular TDIU should be granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and neuroma, which were previously denied. The Veteran was exposed to hazardous noise during service but had normal hearing thresholds at entry and separation.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD with alcohol use disorder is denied, and his claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is also denied.

The Board has denied service connection for a neck disability due to an in-service fall, but granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss as likely related to noise exposure during military service.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's disabilities were not incurred during or related to his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus should be granted service connection. However, the decision on bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's disability rating for actinic keratosis was reduced from 30% to noncompensable, and the VA has restored a 30% rating effective January 1, 2014. Other issues remain pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his disability.

The Veteran's appeals for lung disease, prostate cancer, and cholesterol have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal. The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current diagnosis. Tinnitus has been granted as service-connected.,The remaining issues are remanded: stomach condition (claimed as ulcer), sleep apnea, hernia, and optic nerve eye condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2 substantially or materially contributed to his death, and thus grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The Veteran's arterial heart defibrillation disorder, right hip disability, left hip disorder, emphysema, and COPD are all denied as not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for a higher rating and TDIU due to bilateral hearing loss, including obtaining missing Maryland CNC speech discrimination testing results.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss disability and dismissed his appeal regarding increased ratings for residuals of prostate cancer. The denial is based on a lack of evidence showing that the Veteran had a current hearing loss disability in the right ear as defined by VA regulation.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of clarity regarding the etiology of the Veteran's mixed hearing loss, specifically whether it is related to noise exposure in service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the Veteran not meeting the threshold requirements for a disability as defined by VA regulations. Service connection for tinnitus is remanded and requires further examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection as it was incurred in service. Service connection for cardiovascular disorder, COPD, asbestosis, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded for further development.