Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and reasoning regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim. The examiner must acknowledge the Veteran’s conceded exposure to excessive noise in service.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with no worse than level IV in the right ear and level II in the left ear. The Board found that a compensable rating is not warranted at any point during the appeal period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is insufficient evidence to establish a stressor related to Vietnam or fear of hostile military activity. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied due to no showing of exceptional patterns of hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, IBS, and right knee pain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since December 28, 2009. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left hand laceration with sutures and long finger weakness, left hand laceration with sutures and index finger weakness, residual scar from a left hand laceration, and right ear scars. The issues are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from September 21, 2011 to April 26, 2013. From April 26, 2013 onwards, a higher rating for PTSD is denied. A TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and shoulder conditions, did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of audiometric testing results for March 2016, which could determine if an increased rating is warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination regarding his service-connected bilateral knee disability. The claims for service connection and evaluation of his hearing loss and perforated tympanic membrane are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for retinitis pigmentosa with deuteranomaly was reopened and granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and cellulitis of the bilateral feet were dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete evidence, specifically a missing VA audiogram from November 8, 2019.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. After considering all available evidence, including a private audiometric report and VA examination opinions, the Board finds that these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for both disabilities.

The Board has decided service connection for tinnitus and sleep apnea, but remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for left ear hearing loss and bilateral hearing loss have been denied as his conditions do not warrant higher ratings based on the provided evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to November 25, 2019 was denied. The claim for a higher disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the same condition from November 25, 2019 onward was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because the evidence does not show that he has a disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and he did not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. An addendum opinion is required from a VA clinician.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding his service exposure and medical history. The VA will need to obtain additional records, clarify the dates of active duty service, and schedule new examinations to determine if the Veteran's current disabilities are related to military service.