Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss since August 24, 2010, has been denied as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be related to in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has not resulted in decreased hearing acuity levels to support a compensable rating.,The criteria for service connection for cervical spine disability have not been met, as there is no evidence of an injury or disease during service and the examiner found that his scoliosis was not aggravated by service.,The criteria for service connection for lumbar spine disability have not been met, as there is no evidence of an injury or disease during service and the examiner found that his scoliosis was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The effective date of the grant is November 26, 2019.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the Board finds that his hearing loss did not begin in service.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Board found that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's STRs showed no shifts in hearing during his periods of active duty. The VA examiner concluded that the current hearing loss is more likely related to occupational and recreational noise exposure rather than service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss did not begin during his active duty and is not related to in-service noise exposure.,The Board also denied service connection for tinnitus, concluding that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's current condition to in-service noise exposure.

Your claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted in a previous decision. As such, the current appeal is dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and heat stroke residuals due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. Specifically, SSA records are needed as they may contain relevant information about the Veteran's symptoms.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus to service, and the current conditions are not shown to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete records, inadequate previous opinions, and the need for further examination. The examiner must obtain a full account of symptoms from the Veteran and consider his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The amputation of the right 2nd toe and left 4th toes was also denied as not related to service.,Service connection was not granted for diabetes mellitus or vision problems.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for left ear hearing loss disability, a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, and entitlement to TDIU due to unemployability. The remand includes obtaining additional treatment records from the Veteran's Vet Center and scheduling new VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active service, as there was no evidence of hearing loss during service or within one year post-service. The VA examiner found it less likely than not that the Veteran's current hearing loss is due to noise exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depression due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss due to missing audiometric test results from a VA medical center visit in November 2013. The results need to be obtained and added to the claims file.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right hip disability.,Service connection has also been granted for left hip and left knee disabilities.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, as the previous opinion was insufficient due to non-compliance with prior remand directives.