Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has withdrawn appeals for service connection for right shoulder strain, intercostal muscle (claimed as right-side rib), bilateral hearing loss, rhinitis, respiratory disability, and tinnitus. Appeals for TBI, migraine headaches, increased rating for anxiety disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, effective date prior to May 16, 2018 for service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and effective date prior to May 16, 2018 for service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, osteoarthritis of the right index finger, and tinea pedis with onychomycosis have been granted. The claim for pseudofolliculitis barbae was denied.,Service connection has been established for these conditions based on direct evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not granted a compensable rating.,PTSD received a 100% rating prior to December 17, 2019. The TDIU appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete audiometric testing results and the need for an updated VA treatment record. The Veteran's hearing loss disability rating is also being reviewed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable, with no improvement sought.,The Veteran's DDD with facet arthritis disability remains at a 20 percent rating. The case was remanded for further development and readjudication.,A separate 10 percent rating has been granted for the Veteran's sciatica, left lumbar disability associated with his DDD with facet arthritis.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral hearing loss and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities for further development. The Veteran is required to provide a VA Form 21-8940, and his claim of bilateral hearing loss will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between his current hearing loss and military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of adequate medical opinions addressing the lay statements from the Veteran, his family members, and fellow shipmates. The VA examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion that addresses these statements and provides separate opinions on both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore his TDIU claim is denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left and right shoulder disabilities, low back disorder, multiple joint pain, diabetes mellitus type II, residuals of a head injury (TBI), and vertigo. The reasons were that the Veteran did not have evidence of these conditions during or immediately after military service, and there was no clear connection to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus the claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional audiogram results and a new VA audiology examination to determine the current severity of service-connected left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's hearing loss and left shoulder disability were evaluated, with the hearing loss rated as non-compensable and the left shoulder disability rated at 20 percent. Both conditions have been denied for increased ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a neck condition due to insufficient evidence in their favor. The Veteran must be provided with additional examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, depression, anxiety (acquired psychiatric disability), right ear hearing loss, blurred vision, anal condition, and hypertension have been granted as new and material evidence has been submitted. The service connection claims are reopened.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate rationale in a VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran needs a new VA examination or medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss as his level of hearing loss did not meet the criteria to be considered a disability for VA purposes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the earliest allowable date to establish service connection is November 13, 2008.