Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's noncompensable service-connected disabilities are found to interfere with normal employability, and a 10 percent evaluation is granted. The case is remanded for further examination regarding the cause of his neurological conditions.

The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as they are moot.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, residuals of a neck injury, and residuals of a head injury due to incomplete evaluations. Service connection is granted for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding the Veteran's hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on VA examination results.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss should be rated at 50 percent, effective June 27, 2014. The case is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and private treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as 40 percent prior to February 20, 2015 and 10 percent thereafter. The case is remanded due to the need for audiometric testing results from a March 2015 VA treatment record.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The decision found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not warrant a compensable rating, while his low back strain with degenerative changes was rated at 20 percent from May 1, 2007. The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to November 6, 2013, was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a visual disability, an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 29, 2015, and ratings in excess of 10 percent for carpal tunnel syndrome in both upper extremities from June 24, 2016 onwards. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right foot disability due to incomplete compliance with prior remand directives.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied because he does not have a ratable disability in his left ear, as the required level of hearing loss has not been met.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The VA audiologist must provide an addendum opinion addressing the impact of military noise exposure versus post-service occupational and recreational noise exposure, and explain the cause of the current hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the RO did not fully comply with prior remand directives and has therefore ordered further action on three issues: reopening of a back disorder claim, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and an increased evaluation for scaphoid lunate advance collapse. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records and undergo examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not render him permanently housebound or in need of regular aid and attendance, as his disabilities were not severe enough to require such assistance. The Board denied the claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of aggravation of his pre-existing right ear hearing loss during service and insufficient evidence to establish a causal relationship between his left ear hearing loss and military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, specifically his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examinations that did not address the fact that the Veteran had normal hearing on separation, and the lack of data provided for his hearing at 3000 hertz.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's active duty service and his current hearing disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete rationale in the VA hearing loss examination and failure to convert audiometric results to ISO-ANSI standards. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being reviewed again for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of diabetes mellitus type II with voiding dysfunction remains pending and requires further examination or opinion to determine if he meets the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including MDD and PTSD, secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, is remanded.