Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to an inextricably intertwined issue of whether there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the March 2014 rating decision that denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The earlier effective date claims are deferred until the CUE claim is adjudicated.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further medical evaluation regarding the Veteran's ability to work given his service-connected disabilities. The VA needs to obtain and review any relevant treatment records, including the February 2013 private medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to re-evaluate the Veteran's hearing loss, as the previous evaluation was considered invalid due to inconsistent speech recognition thresholds and test results.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 90 percent from October 23, 2012. The Veteran also received a TDIU effective October 23, 2012.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability, finding that his current condition is related to his military noise exposure and resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives and insufficient clarity in the VA audiologist's opinion regarding the validity of the Veteran's hearing test results.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been denied as there is no competent evidence showing that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during a period of honorable service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right lumbar radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, lumbar strain, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has referred the case for extra-schedular consideration as it may be sufficient to warrant an extraschedular TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that it did not manifest to a compensable degree during or within one year after his separation from service and is not etiologically related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has not worsened to a level that warrants an increased rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examinations and unreliable hearing test results. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD may affect his ability to be tested, but he must cooperate for a new examination at a facility that offers Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs) or Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, and the Board denied an increased rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his right ear hearing loss likely pre-existed service and was not aggravated by it. The left ear hearing loss was deemed to have been completely resolved prior to separation from service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability or tinnitus during service or within one year after separation. The Board also found that the Veteran did not provide credible testimony regarding the onset of his tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that he does not have a current disability as defined by VA standards and thus cannot establish entitlement to this benefit.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence in the July 2017 VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and an examination.

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