Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus disability, finding that these conditions are causally related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing information and uncompleted directives from a previous remand. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to February 10, 2020, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is pending.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD, CAD, and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion, and a new one must be obtained.

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

The Veteran's service connection claims for multiple myeloma, right ear hearing loss, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, penile cancer, and pulmonary fibrosis are all granted. The Veteran is found to have been exposed to Agent Orange during his service at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB) in Thailand.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for hepatitis C service connection. Tinnitus service connection is granted, but the hearing loss claim remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a sleep disorder, including sleep apnea and insomnia. The Board found that there was no evidence of an increase in severity of pre-existing hearing loss during service and that there is no credible evidence linking the current sleep disorder to service.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal, respiratory, psychiatric, hearing loss and tinnitus, lumbar spine, shoulder, hand, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure. The issues of service connection for retinopathy, liver disorder, autoimmune disease, thrombocytopenia, pancytopenia, migraine headaches, tremors, peripheral neuropathy of upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy of lower extremities, insomnia, and obstructive sleep apnea are being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and reduction of the rating for rhinitis were denied. The Board found that his anxiety disorder, sinusitis, rhinitis, bilateral hearing loss, hemorrhoids, appendectomy scar, right middle finger scar, and TDIU claims did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and a need for an audiometric examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of a VA examination, as the Veteran canceled the fourth scheduled appointment. The decision is pending further review.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated at 0 percent, as the VA examination results do not warrant a compensable rating.,The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome with patellar tendinitis prior to July 4, 2019 and status post right total knee replacement from July 5, 2019 are both rated at 30 percent. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for these conditions.,The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome with patellar tendinitis is rated at 10 percent. The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for this condition.,The Veteran is seeking TDIU prior to December 21, 2016.

The claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are denied. The claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as the appellant requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding insufficient evidence to link the condition to service or a period of noise exposure. The Veteran's current hearing loss was not shown to be related to his military service.