Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, stomach ulcers, and skin disorder. The issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD and hypertension due to exposure to herbicide agents are also remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability and that any hearing loss found was not caused by in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of hearing loss due to insufficient evidence in the June 2014 VA examination.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for tinnitus as moot because it was granted in a previous rating decision. The hearing loss claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder or arm disability, left knee or leg disability, right knee or leg disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between in-service ear infections and current bilateral hearing loss. Additional medical opinions are needed.

The Board has determined that a new examination is necessary to properly address the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his scars.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as 0 percent prior to August 23, 2017 and 40 percent thereafter. The Board denied the claim for increased ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since May 4, 2009. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to May 29, 2012 and on a schedular basis thereafter.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development due to a lack of medical opinion regarding the effects of Cortisporin otic solution used during service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss for additional development due to issues with arranging an examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to PTSD. The case is being returned to VA for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment for the period prior to July 26, 2019.

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the disabilities had their onset in service due to acoustic trauma during basic training and grenade training.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and obstructive sleep apnea due to new evidence submitted after a previous denial.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, but the claim for low back disability is remanded due to scheduling issues.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the case for further development regarding bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to an error in scheduling a VA audiology examination. The Veteran must be provided another opportunity to report for such an examination.