Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to its inextricability with other previously remanded issues, including increased ratings for PTSD, hearing loss, and prostate cancer residuals, as well as service connection for tremors.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss effective June 20, 1981, the day after separation from active duty. The decision is based on new medical evidence received in March 2016 that showed progression of hearing loss post-military service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches, finding that these conditions are caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected shoulder and knee disabilities as well as his tinnitus.,Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a left ear infection, and a right ankle disability due to lack of diagnosis during the appeal period.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during active service and is granting service connection for it. However, the decision on bilateral hearing loss remains pending as further examination and evidence are needed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hearing loss in his right ear and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, requiring a new one with appropriate expertise to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, which is currently considered a direct service connection issue without any presumption or secondary theory.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection was granted for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as DDD, lumbar spinal stenosis, spondylosis, degenerative disc syndrome, and degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for chronic ingrown toenails, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise and resolving all reasonable doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for high cholesterol, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and hypertension were denied. The Veteran was granted a TDIU beginning May 11, 2015.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that an increased rating beyond this level is not warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his bilateral foot disability, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss. The decision found no evidence of a current disability or link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the issue of service connection for a bilateral knee condition due to inadequate examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The Board found that his audiometric results do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an increase in compensation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was received on September 23, 2014. The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date due to lack of medical evidence showing an increase in disability during the year preceding the claim and because there is no basis to find that an increase occurred.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 16, 2019, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter is being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding the Maryland CNC Test used during his September 2017 VA audiological evaluation.