Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that an in-person VA examination and audiometric testing are necessary to determine the nature and etiology of his hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected heart disability, along with other disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 16, 2020. The Board granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an extra-schedular rating for tinnitus is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence meeting VA standards.,The Veteran's claim for anxiety disorder was reopened and granted, with the additional evidence showing current diagnosis of anxiety disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, including as due to otosclerosis.

The Veteran's PTSD and bilateral hearing loss claims are remanded for further development. The TDIU claim prior to October 26, 2018 is also on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for a DRO hearing request.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The diabetes mellitus claim is reopened, and bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a skin condition is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a skin disability.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating prior to April 2, 2007 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination results, unclear service periods, and potential interrelatedness of the issues.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for anxiety disorder and bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran’s symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus due to a lack of adequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to concerns about incorrect information used in the VA examination. The Veteran is asked to provide any additional evidence he may have.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating before October 15, 2019, and a rating in excess of 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claim for an initial, compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the audiometric testing results did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for a hearing loss disability of the right ear, finding that there was no increase in severity during service and that the Veteran's preexisting condition did not worsen beyond its natural progression.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial rating have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including updated medical records, personnel records, and verification of in-service events.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral tympanic membrane perforation is dismissed.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. A compensable rating of 20 percent is assigned from February 24, 2020 for DM II.,An initial compensable rating prior to August 1, 2017 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for residuals of prostate cancer is remanded.,Service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is remanded.,The Veteran's service-connected DM II requires a compensable rating prior to February 24, 2020.

The Veteran's urethral stricture resulted in voiding dysfunction that required the use of an appliance beginning April 15, 2013. The RO granted a 60 percent rating for this condition effective May 20, 2019.,For bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran has Level VI hearing acuity in the right ear and Level III hearing acuity in the left ear, resulting in a 10 percent disability rating.