Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss. The issues of service connection for right ear hearing loss and an initial rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder are also being remanded.

The Veteran is granted a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss disability from July 14, 2014, to April 9, 2018.,The Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss disability beginning April 10, 2018.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for hiatal hernia with GERD and granted a TDIU, finding the Veteran unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with a combined rating of 0 percent for both ears.,Both his left and right knee disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to in-service acoustic trauma due to his combat service in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to a lack of adequate medical examination, as the Veteran presented with significant difficulty understanding questions during his previous VA examination.

The Veteran's initial and increased rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for updated audiometry results.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his coronary artery disease and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss, anxiety disorder, headaches, sleep apnea, shoulder strain, vertigo, back issues, sciatica, and nerve damage in the upper extremities, were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of current disability for some conditions (e.g., left ear hearing loss) or insufficient symptoms to warrant higher ratings.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, bilateral hearing loss disability, right ear otitis media, sleep apnea, and low testosterone. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, but he claims it has worsened since his last VA examination. The Board has ordered a new VA medical examination to assess the current severity of his disability.

The Board denied the claim for TDIU due to insufficient evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current hearing loss and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent disabling, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) by reason of service-connected disabilities, for purposes of accrued benefits.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical records and providing clarifying opinions from VA examiners.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to concerns about the adequacy of a 2011 VA examination, specifically regarding the examiner's failure to address certain pieces of lay evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is granted at a 40 percent rating from March 8, 2018. The appeal for increased ratings prior to that date is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they are related to his in-service submarine duties. The VA will obtain additional medical opinions to determine if there is a link between the disabilities and service.