Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete examination and development of records. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is considered a disability for VA purposes, but there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period from July 16, 2010 to July 17, 2017 due to his service-connected disabilities. However, he was denied a TDIU for the period after July 18, 2017 as he successfully completed Vocational Rehabilitation and obtained full-time employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as 80 percent disabling from May 9, 2019. The Board denied a compensable rating prior to that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure causing current hearing impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claims of hearing loss and tinnitus, as there is insufficient evidence in the record to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD). The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his active duty service. Service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) are remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board dismissed the AMA appeal regarding higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss as it was untimely and part of a pending legacy appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus has been granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board granted service connection for right and left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service acoustic trauma. A higher initial disability rating of 50% was also granted for unspecified anxiety disorder with alcohol use disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is denied as the evidence does not support a link between his current condition and his active military service. The Board also found that he cannot secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, but did not grant TDIU as the schedular threshold was met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his current hearing loss. The preponderance of the evidence did not support presumptive service connection either.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as they are not service-connected due to lack of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptoms, and the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. For the initial rating period on appeal from June 6, 2017, a disability rating of 70 percent was granted for PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, while his bilateral hearing loss does not meet the threshold established by VA regulations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right knee disorder are granted as service-connected. The case is remanded for further verification of National Guard service periods and to obtain relevant medical records.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a low back disability due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The Board denied the claim as there is no direct evidence linking his current condition to his military service.