Hearing loss decisions — 2020

For the period prior to May 19, 2017, the Veteran's disability rating was 40 percent and did not meet the criteria for schedular consideration of TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.,For the period from May 19, 2017, to November 21, 2018, the Veteran’s combined disability rating was 60 percent and did not meet the criteria for schedular consideration of TDIU; however, his service-connected PTSD precluded substantially gainful employment.,For the period beginning November 21, 2018, the Veteran's combined disability rating is 70 percent and meets the criteria for schedular consideration of TDIU; his service-connected PTSD precludes substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to incomplete documentation, including a lack of verification of incarceration dates and missing SSA records. The Veteran needs to provide completed VA Form 21-8940 and undergo a functional impact assessment.

The Veteran's hearing loss was no worse than Level II in both ears during the appeal period, and he is not entitled to a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these claims as they are moot.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his active duty service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened, and he is now granted initial disability ratings for his lumbar spine condition, right knee strain, left knee strain, and TDIU.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection. The muscle injury to the left shoulder, previously rated as noncompensable, is now granted a separate 20% rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo secondary to hearing loss are granted. The claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for interstitial lung disease is denied.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is related to his presumed in-service exposure to herbicide agents in the Republic of Vietnam, and service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently assigned a 10 percent evaluation, which is the maximum rating authorized for tinnitus under Diagnostic Code 6260. The issue of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus remains on appeal. The matter of bilateral hearing loss prior to April 11, 2017 and since that date is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disability, bilateral foot disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions in the June 2016 VA examinations. The case is returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as a result of exposure to loud noise during service, and the Board finds that this meets the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and now grants the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for these conditions. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of memory loss or cognitive decline, right ear hearing loss, digestive disorder, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, fatigue, or loss of saliva at any time during the pendency of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral syndrome and for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss as it did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, continuity of symptomatology is not established, and the disability is not otherwise shown to be etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete audiogram records and a need for another audiological examination. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being reviewed.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is related to service and the claim for service connection is granted. The claims for increased disability ratings for right foot condition, left foot condition, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in not clarifying whether a private audiologist used the Maryland CNC test for speech recognition scores. The Veteran needs to be re-examined and provided with clarification from the January 2016 private audiologist.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are denied as the evidence does not support a retroactive award of benefits.,The Veteran's claim for left ear hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding her current condition.