Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions did not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided that a remand is necessary due to the need for additional evidence and an examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss had its onset in service or is related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Veteran's hearing loss, bladder condition, sleep apnea, PTSD, and headaches are all being reconsidered.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is etiologically related to his in-service hazardous noise exposure.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to a lack of recent examination and the possibility of worsening.

The Board has determined that new evidence supports a readjudication of the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. However, the evidence does not establish that the current condition is related to active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the examination report and a need for further medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any hearing disability, specifically addressing whether pre-existing right ear hearing loss increased during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, which is related to his active duty service including in-service noise exposure as an infantryman. The claim will be reviewed with a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination as there is insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has readjudicated the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and relevant evidence that was not previously considered. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no causal relationship between the Veteran's active military service and his current bilateral hearing loss.,The claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted based on the Veteran's credible report of its onset within a year of separation from service, consistent with high noise exposure during military service.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to reconsider the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's testimony provides new information about his military noise exposure, which may prove an element of each claim.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since October 2019, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's restoration of a 30 percent disability rating for GERD is granted. The initial ratings for left and right hallux valgus, as well as the compensable ratings for left and right hammer toes, residuals of right humerus fracture, left and right calcaneal spurs, and bilateral hearing loss are all denied.

The Veteran is unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities since March 1, 2014. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU have been met from this date.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an advisory opinion from an independent medical expert to assess the Veteran's ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU as his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's initial hearing loss rating was denied prior to September 1, 2020. From September 1, 2020, a 30 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

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 related to in-service noise exposure and concluding that the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that his hearing loss began during active duty.

The Veteran's appeals for right ear hearing loss, allergies, viral syndrome, chloracne, bilateral knee disability, PFB, lumbar spine disability, and left hip disability have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.