Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA opinion regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The examiner should consider in-service and post-service noise exposure, including work as a laborer.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection, linked to noise exposure in service.,Service connection for the left knee disability and thoracolumbar spine arthritis are both granted. The TURP residuals are also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of an audiological evaluation prior to separation from service, which could not confirm or deny the presence of hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered in the aggregate, limit his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has ordered additional examination and opinion regarding this issue.

The Veteran's hearing loss rating was restored to 40 percent from the date of reduction, September 1, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with previous remand directives and a new medical opinion is necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's sleep disorder, bilateral hearing loss, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, hyperthyroidism, and acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression and anxiety) are all currently rated.,The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected ischemic heart disease.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to maintain substantial gainful employment from December 19, 2002, to July 5, 2004. The Board granted a TDIU for this period.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient consideration of his military noise exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether this disability began during active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is presumed to have been incurred in service due to continuous symptoms since separation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability met the criteria for a 10 percent rating prior to March 14, 2015. The Board has granted an initial noncompensable rating for this period and remanded for further action on the issue of increased ratings after March 14, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that it is etiologically related to in-service noise exposure. Service connection was denied for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The examiner is requested to review all pertinent records, including service treatment records and post-service medical records, and provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s bilateral ear hearing loss had its onset or is otherwise related to active military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 100% disability rating, and he is also awarded SMC under 38 C.F.R. § 1114(s)(1). The claim for an increased hearing loss rating was denied, and the issue of TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a total disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, ischemic heart disease, tinnitus, and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that he meets the requirements for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not establish a link to service or any incident of service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus due to inadequate opinions regarding the onset and relationship to service.