Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran was granted TDIU for the period from February 17, 2015 to January 28, 2019 due to service-connected disabilities of degenerative arthritis of the lumber spine, left hip condition with limited flexion, bilateral knee replacements, hypertension, ischemic cerebral vascular accident, left hip osteoarthritis with trochanteris pain and hearing loss. The effective date was set at February 17, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss is not rated higher than noncompensable.,Right ear hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure causing the condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, eczema of the hands, and dizziness are all found to be related to service.,Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for hearing loss and an increased rating for alopecia of the temples. The Veteran needs to undergo new VA examinations to determine her current condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing right ear hearing loss was permanently worsened by hazardous noise exposure during his military service, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of tinnitus and hearing loss due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back disability and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of VA examination in relation to these issues. The Veteran is required to be provided with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, specifically regarding service connection for right ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for hypertension.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that reasonable doubt should be resolved in favor of the Veteran. The decision is based on the Veteran's competent and credible statements regarding noise exposure during service and his current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, finding that the Veteran was exposed to acoustic trauma during military service and these conditions have persisted since then.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's cause of death is denied as service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death. The Veteran was granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to procedural errors in the decision-making process.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence of hearing loss during or within one year after service and that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a link between his current hearing loss and service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudicative action due to conflicting medical opinions regarding service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that his auditory acuity did not meet the criteria for any higher rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated as noncompensable prior to November 29, 2018. A rating of 10 percent was granted beginning November 29, 2018 and a rating of 20 percent was granted beginning January 7, 2019. The Veteran is not entitled to a rating in excess of 30 percent for his bilateral hearing loss disability as of January 4, 2020.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 6100.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric condition.