Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he was not unemployable based on his PTSD and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to March 30, 2015. The Board denied entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis and the effective date for DEA benefits.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the AOJ not substantially complying with the Board’s December 2019 remand directives, specifically failing to obtain missing VA audiogram results from March 2013 and July 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss meets VA criteria and is related to in-service acoustic trauma. The claim was reopened due to new evidence submitted since the last denial.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete records and the need for new nexus opinions. The Veteran's hearing loss is not compensable, but his other conditions remain under review.

The Veteran's application to reopen his hearing loss disability claim has been granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely posttraumatic stress disorder), and coronary artery disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, arthritis of bilateral hips, and arthritis of bilateral knees. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is service-connected, as it was present within one year of discharge and there is no evidence of a clearly attributable intercurrent cause.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to November 9, 2018. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction is denied a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran needs additional VA examinations or addendum opinions to determine if his conditions are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran contends that his current bilateral hearing loss is due to significant military noise exposure from working as a munitions specialist.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 80 percent since December 30, 2015. The Board found that the evidence did not show sustained improvement in his hearing to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that more development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a stroke. The decision on these issues is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected psychiatric disorder, low back disability, left knee disability, and hearing loss. The RO must conduct new examinations to assess the current severity of these disabilities and issue an SOC regarding the effective dates of the awards.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the record, including a lack of audiometric testing during service. The case is being returned to the VA for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left foot disability, an initial rating higher than 10 percent for his left knee disability, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to potential worsening evidence and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employment.

The Board has determined that the VA examination did not fully address issues raised in the October 2018 remand and additional development is needed.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's service-connected right ear hearing loss, finding that the audiometric test results were unreliable and unsuitable for rating purposes.