Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for further development regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is denied as his hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty in the effects of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his need for regular aid and attendance. A new medical opinion is required.

The Veteran's service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted. The rating for right ear hearing loss remains noncompensable. From September 1, 2015 and prior to May 17, 2019, a rating in excess of 30 percent for the right knee disability is denied. From May 17, 2019 until present, a rating in excess of 60 percent for the right knee disability is denied. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 0 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The examiner must provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s current bilateral hearing loss is caused by or otherwise etiologically related to his active service, including conceded in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to insufficient evidence, including a need for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU due to insufficient evidence in the record, particularly from a November 2018 audiogram.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence received since his last denial in October 1984. The claim is reopened, but the merits of both issues are still pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be due to in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as his current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss meets the criteria for a disability under VA regulations, and his competent reports of noise exposure during service support this finding.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to deficiencies in the VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for updated VA medical records and a new VA examination.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for hearing loss as he, through his representative, explicitly withdrew his claim at the October 2018 hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current disabilities are considered direct service connections based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete audiometric testing records. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the hearing loss claim.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran had acoustic trauma during service. Service connection was denied for right and left knee disorders, left ankle disorder, and stomach disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for hearing loss and found that the Veteran's hearing loss does not present such an exceptional disability picture that it renders the rating schedule inadequate. The claim for extraschedular evaluation for hearing loss is therefore denied.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 16, 2018. Therefore, entitlement to TDIU was denied.