Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete records from the Veteran's former employer. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records, provide an addendum opinion by a VA examiner if necessary, and then readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death. The Board cannot adjudicate the merits of this appeal as they have no jurisdiction.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's death was caused by service-connected conditions or due to his diabetes mellitus, type II. The VA will seek further information about the Veteran's exposure and review medical opinions on these issues.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected. The claims for bladder disability, cardiac disability, and kidney disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for temporomandibular joint disability (TMJ), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to a lack of current diagnosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim. The decision is based on the lack of a link between the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and his current hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his claim for a residual post-operative scar behind the left ear is remanded.,The Veteran has not been provided with adequate medical examinations to evaluate his claims.

The Veteran's digestive system condition, specifically a moderate to moderately severe duodenal ulcer with symptoms of recurrent hematemesis and melena, is granted a 40 percent rating. The Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an initial compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, hip disabilities, immune system and digestive tract disabilities, PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities. Additional evidence is needed, as well as clarification on the nature and etiology of some conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for a lumbar strain, service connection for right ear hearing loss, service connection for a gastrointestinal disability (presumably due to herbicide exposure), and service connection for sleep apnea (due to herbicide exposure or as secondary to PTSD).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, a dental condition for compensation purposes, and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding that any current disabilities were related to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the issues related to right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, neck arthritis pain, left elbow arthritis pain, left wrist arthritis pain, left hand arthritis pain, right hip arthritis pain, left hip arthritis pain, right knee arthritis pain, and left knee arthritis pain. The issue of service connection for chronic skin systemic condition is also dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service loud noise exposure. The decision is based on direct service connection due to continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a rating of 70 percent, but no higher. The initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction is denied. New and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for TBI, headaches, vertigo, sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, rhinitis, right eye disorder, and left eye disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn.,Service connection is granted for allergic rhinitis, with the condition believed to have onset during active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that there was no current disability meeting VA criteria and insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an eye disability (glaucoma), a left ankle disability, a vestibular disorder, and a heart disability are all granted. The case is remanded for additional examinations to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus should be remanded due to insufficient evidence in the current record.