Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings on PTSD with mood disorder, right knee strain with arthritis, and right ear hearing loss is remanded due to procedural defects.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was denied as not related to service. The Board found that the Veteran’s left knee and right knee disorders, including their secondary effects on his big toe conditions, were also not related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and right knee disability were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a ratable hearing loss disability, and his right knee disability was rated as 10 percent disabling overall.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for compensable ratings for left ear hearing loss and right inguinal hernia repair scars, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical examinations. The issues include service connection for various conditions, but no specific exposure basis or presumption is mentioned.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for service-connected disabilities prior to January 19, 2011 was denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected conditions prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and coronary artery disease were denied. For bilateral hearing loss, the current assigned ratings accurately reflect his disability picture during each time frame. For coronary artery disease, the preponderance of evidence is against a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to November 7, 2019, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a headache disorder as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence, including medical records, and undergo an examination to determine if he has any new disabilities related to his hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's fatty tumor and its residuals, status post-excision, as due to herbicide exposure during his active duty in Vietnam.,Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability or a nexus between the conditions and service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service and attributing his current condition to post-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disorder and tinnitus due to additional development being required.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and thyroid cancer should be remanded due to incomplete verification of his periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), hypertension, erectile dysfunction, residuals of prostatitis, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, tremors, acquired psychiatric disorder, and skin condition due to incomplete examinations and lack of exposure information.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been reopened due to new evidence. The claims for cataracts, right eye ptosis, and a higher rating for glaucoma are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to noise exposure in service. The VA examination is inadequate as it did not consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, to include insomnia, is remanded and requires further examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his hearing loss is related to military noise exposure and resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and total disability rating based on individual unemployability based on service-connected disabilities (TDIU). Specifically, the AOJ must obtain the August 2017 audiogram results referenced in the Veteran’s statements and clarify if a performance intensity function test was performed during the May 2018 private audiological evaluation.