Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether his current condition is related to in-service acoustic trauma. As a result, he is now entitled to this benefit.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and colon cancer have been dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his active service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic skin disorder, an initial schedular compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and an initial schedular rating in excess of 30 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder were all denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, caused or aggravated his vertigo.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied. The claims for left ankle degenerative arthritis, left foot degenerative arthritis, left hand degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis (bilateral), right knee degenerative arthritis (bilateral), left wrist degenerative arthritis, and right wrist degenerative arthritis are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hearing loss disability and his military service. The case will be sent back for further examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to a duty to assist error. An addendum medical opinion is needed to address whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service or caused by military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of in-service hearing loss or noise exposure that would support a grant of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error regarding radiation exposure for multiple myeloma. The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ear hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current hearing loss and his military service.

The Board has reinstated service connection for PTSD and granted entitlement to a TDIU based on the Veteran's multiple service-connected disabilities preventing her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 9, 2016 for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no indication of a prior claim. The effective date for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been assigned based on the date of the initial claim.,An earlier effective date of March 9, 2015 was granted for left leg amputation below the knee and SMC based on anatomical loss of the left lower extremity below the knee as the Veteran's claims encompassed these conditions at the time he filed his April 2016 claim.,An earlier effective date of March 9, 2015 was granted for right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease and left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease based on liberalizing legislation regarding herbicide agent exposure. The earliest effective date is one year prior to the receipt of his intent to file.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 30, 2016 for service connection for left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease was denied as there is no indication that this condition existed at the time he filed his April 2016 claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, right knee instability, or left knee instability. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ear hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current hearing loss and his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examination and opinion regarding service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. The examiner must consider the Veteran's lay statements about noise exposure during service.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 90 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss, effective September 1, 2020, as the reduction was improper due to lack of evidence showing actual improvement in the disability under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board denied increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to September 19, 2011 and in excess of 50 percent thereafter. The Veteran's vertigo was also found not related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and inadequate examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 50 percent, the highest available rating under VA regulations. The Board found that his hearing impairment did not warrant a higher evaluation based on his audiometric test results.