Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for a bilateral hearing loss disability, left hip and left foot disabilities due to the appellant's election to have the appeal processed by the Decision Review Officer.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular threshold percentage requirements for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). The claim is remanded to be submitted to VA’s Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to a failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The Veteran must be given another opportunity to participate in these examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for low back disorder, right knee disorder, psoriasis, degenerative disc disease and DJD of the lumbar spine, right knee patellofemoral syndrome with patellar tendonitis, and left ear hearing loss due to service aggravation. Right ear hearing loss was denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened for low back disorder and right knee disorder.

The Veteran's hearing loss was found to be at Level II from July 26, 2012 until October 19, 2014 and Level VII from October 20, 2014. The rating for the period from July 26, 2012 to October 19, 2014 was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. For the period from October 20, 2014, the Veteran's hearing loss warranted a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran is granted effective dates of March 31, 2015 for a 70% schedular rating for PTSD, TDIU, and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). These awards are based on the Veteran meeting the criteria for these benefits as of that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and for effective dates earlier than May 26, 2016, for his right knee, left knee, and lumbar spine disabilities. The claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for each of these conditions is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions based on noise exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, as well as a supplemental opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss. The issues of service connection for right ear hearing loss, rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tear, and TDIU are all remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to have had its onset during service and is at least as likely as not related to in-service exposure to hazardous noise. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of evidence regarding whether the Veteran currently suffers from right ear hearing loss. The Veteran will need to undergo a VA examination to determine if he has this condition.

The Veteran's claims for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for mixed anxiety and depressed mood, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back disability, and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been dismissed. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to outstanding treatment records, need for VA examinations, and inextricably intertwined TDIU claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and ankle conditions have been remanded for further evaluation due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his military service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to insufficient development. Further examination by an otolaryngologist is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his military service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a hearing loss disability has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.