Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is attributable to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability during or prior to the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been found to meet the criteria for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance, as he requires regular assistance due to his cognitive impairments and physical limitations. The Board has also determined that SMC T is not warranted given the Veteran's condition does not require higher level care.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the timing and nature of his exposure to herbicides, as well as incomplete treatment records. The AOJ is instructed to verify proximity to Vietnam and obtain pertinent VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the cases of hypertension and bilateral hearing loss for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and granted due to the presentation of new evidence showing continuity of symptoms since service, meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection based on noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service connected. The claim for lumbar stenosis with disc herniation is granted, but the rating assigned and effective date have not been determined.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection was also granted for coronary artery disease (CAD) and prostate cancer due to herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI and PTSD is denied. The claims for tinnitus, respiratory disorder, and bilateral hearing loss are granted on a presumptive basis due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The remand includes obtaining clarification on the use of the Maryland CNC word list in the audiological evaluations, as well as a vocational expert opinion assessing the Veteran's employability given his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disorder have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease that caused these conditions.,Service connection was not granted because the VA audiologist and otolaryngologist found that the Veteran’s hearing loss and tinnitus are less likely than not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his service, specifically his noise exposure during military service. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on several issues, including service connection for various conditions and rating claims. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board has determined that the Veteran failed to attend his scheduled VA examinations and has provided good cause for missing them. As such, new VA examinations are necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, which was granted for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for further examination and development of his claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and service. The examiner noted that the Veteran had normal hearing during service and did not experience significant decline in hearing thresholds upon testing in 2003.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an opinion regarding the Veteran's low back disability and left ear hearing loss.