Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has granted restoration of the 20 percent rating for left wrist disability, but has remanded several other claims due to new evidence and incomplete records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient analysis regarding the Veteran's educational and employment history, as well as his hearing loss impact on occupational functioning. The Social Security Administration records are requested for review, and a VA audiologist is needed to assess how the Veteran’s hearing loss affected his work from February 2008 through January 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military noise exposure. Service connection was denied for anemia due to lack of medical evidence linking it to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding right ear hearing loss.

The Board has decided that the service connection for bilateral hearing loss cannot be determined without additional information from a VA examiner regarding noise trauma during ACDUTRA.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions began during active service or are related to an incident of service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantial gainful employment, so his claim for an extraschedular total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for a neck injury and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has vacated the March 2019 decision regarding service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. The issue of service connection for tinnitus is granted, while the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of medical evidence on record.

The Board denied service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss did not meet the criteria for direct service connection due to lack of evidence showing a link between in-service noise exposure and his current condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection and increased evaluations, including obtaining updated treatment records from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and providing new VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis effective January 17, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left ear hearing loss on an extraschedular basis was denied. The Board found that the functional effects of his hearing loss, including difficulty understanding instructions and directions at work, were contemplated by the schedular criteria.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied due to his failure to provide necessary information regarding his employment status.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of sufficient evidence in her VA audiological examination. The Veteran is required to undergo another VA examination to determine if her conditions are related to military noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus due to insufficient development of evidence, including VA clinical records from Iowa City and Denver. The Veteran's testimony regarding in-service noise exposure and subsequent treatment is also considered.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for updated employment information. The Board acknowledges that he has been employed as an Uber driver, but needs more details on his work history and income.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial compensable ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.