Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and/or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that there was a procedural error in the October 2019 rating decision and thus remanded for further development, including a VA examination by an ENT specialist to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as incurred during service. However, the bilateral hearing loss claim is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an outstanding audiogram from VA North Texas HCS, which is needed for proper evaluation of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding a compensable evaluation for hypertension. The TDIU claim is denied, and the sleep apnea syndrome claim is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for further VA evaluation and consideration of recent VA audiological testing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes, and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure. The decision resolves all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to military service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, and service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy is granted. The case of dizziness is remanded due to new medical literature submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased initial rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted in full. The remaining issues of service connection for a back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including posttraumatic stress disorder and depression) are dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection.,VA denied service connection for a back disorder because there was no evidence of arthritis within one year after separation from service, and VA found that the Veteran's current low back condition is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period.,Beginning March 1, 2012, the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active military service. The right ear hearing loss claim remains pending due to a lack of complete audiogram records.

The Board denied entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to December 1, 2015, for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim was granted with a compensable rating from December 1, 2015 to March 22, 2019, and a 20 percent rating on and after March 22, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the preponderance of evidence does not support a link between current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted, and the effective date of his right knee disability service connection is denied as earlier than June 16, 2006.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical evidence from the prior VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is considered to have started during his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.