Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The decision is based on the evidence of record at the time of the November 2019 rating decision.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence to support a link between his current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing a retrospective medical opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (secondary to bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) and entitlement to TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left knee disability was denied, and his initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to February 18, 2020 and any rating in excess of 20 percent from that date onward were also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of an increased rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD due to conflicting medical opinions and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure. The cervical and lumbosacral spine conditions have been remanded due to lack of examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not incurred in and etiologically related to acoustic trauma during active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records, specifically missing pure tone audiometry test results from May 17, 2019. The Veteran's hearing disability needs to be re-evaluated with these full results.

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

The appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is dismissed. The appeals for service connection for a lung condition (other than sleep apnea), left ear hearing loss, and gastritis/GERD are all denied. An effective date of May 17, 2011 is granted for the grant of service connection for gastritis/GERD.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. Service connection for arthritis and a right ankle disorder is denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure. His bilateral hearing loss and GERD are denied, with the latter being remanded for further evaluation. The skin disability and carotid artery occlusive disease remain in dispute.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is related to his military service. The decision is based on the Veteran's reports of noise exposure during service and a lack of significant threshold shift at separation.

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

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and spinal stenosis with kyphosis. The AOJ should obtain personnel files, CVs, and disciplinary records of the VA examiners who examined the Veteran in this case, as well as any outstanding VA medical records.

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 an increased rating for loss of use of the right upper extremity was denied, but his claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance (A&A) was granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and low back disability due to insufficient development, including obtaining an opinion that considers all relevant evidence.