Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for back and eye conditions. The Veteran's current diagnoses of degenerative arthritis of the spine, maculopathy, and pseudophakia were not related to his active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to noise exposure during military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder, tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea, and left ear hearing loss, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (depressive disorder NOS) is remanded.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for PTSD has been increased to 70 percent, effective from the date of the decision. TDIU benefits have not been granted.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss from July 1, 2019, and thereafter. The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine the appropriate initial disability rating prior to July 1, 2019.

The Board found that the Veteran was insane at the time of misconduct leading to his bad conduct discharge, thus removing any statutory or regulatory bar to VA benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no current disability in accordance with VA regulations.

The Board has denied a rating for compressive neuropathy of the left suprascapular nerve in excess of 20 percent prior to April 26, 2012 and in excess of 40 percent thereafter. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, peripheral vestibular disorder, and sleep apnea are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the other service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and cardiomyopathy due to insufficient evidence of a current disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is required for the claims of service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, liver cancer, colon cancer, stroke residuals, heart disorder, blood clot disorder, vertigo, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The remand includes obtaining medical opinions to address the nature and etiology of these conditions in relation to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion.

The Board has decided the claims for hearing loss and sleep disorder are remanded due to insufficient reasoning in the original decision. The Veteran's service connection claims will be reviewed with additional medical opinions.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination and instructed the examiner to address medical literature submitted by the Veteran. Another remand is required due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since May 20, 2019. The Board denied a higher rating for PTSD prior to October 21, 2014 and from October 21, 2014 to May 19, 2019. TDIU was granted from May 20, 2019 to October 22, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional audiometric testing records.

The Veteran's skin cancer and bilateral hearing loss claims are being remanded for additional examination and opinion to address the direct service connection aspect of their cases.