Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted service connection for tinnitus during active duty training (ACDUTRA). The appellant's current tinnitus is considered to have originated during his ACDUTRA, while the hearing loss does not meet VA criteria for a disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for stroke, right ear hearing loss, and back condition due to errors in the decision-making process. Additional examinations are required to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's asthma is granted a 30% rating, and his service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, and sleep apnea are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's headaches, bilateral hearing loss, dizziness, and paresthesias of the upper and lower extremities are all granted as service-connected due to exposure to mefloquine during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss of use of a foot or feet, permanent impairment of both eyes, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ankylosis of a knee or hip. Therefore, the claim for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment is denied.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no valid Notice of Disagreement (NOD) submitted within one year of the July 2014 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is remanded due to new evidence submitted after the September 2019 rating decision. The initial disability rating for right ear hearing loss remains denied as his hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has denied the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence to support a nexus between current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.

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

The Veteran's asthma with bronchitis and reactive airway disease, left elbow disability, left ankle fracture residuals, hypertension, and left ear hearing loss were all rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations.,The Veteran was denied increased ratings for his asthma, left elbow, left ankle, and hypertension conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for left ear hearing loss is granted. The right ear hearing loss and the left toe scar claims are denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but has determined that additional development is needed for his bilateral hearing loss claim.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but has remanded for additional evidence regarding his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's hearing loss has manifested by no worse than level III hearing in both ears. The appeal is based on a direct service connection and not due to exposure to any specific agent or basis.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted service connection, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability is denied. Other service connection claims are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted. However, his claim for tinnitus was denied.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded as it may be dependent on the rating assigned for his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for any higher rating.