Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence and a need for further medical examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a nexus between any current hearing loss and active duty.

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

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied, and her claim for service connection for psychiatric disability (including depression and anxiety) is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, as his pure tone threshold average is below the threshold for a compensable rating. The Board found that the Veteran’s complaint of difficulty hearing was already considered in the rating schedule.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or within one year after his military service.,His hypertension was not service-connected because there is no evidence of onset during service and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that it is secondary to his service-connected heart disease.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 60 percent since October 24, 2019. He was granted TDIU effective that date.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was previously rated as 0 percent prior to August 15, 2019 and is now rated at 20 percent from that date. The appeal for increased ratings remains pending due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at a 30 percent disability rating, effective from the date of this decision.

The Board has remanded the claim for a TDIU due to unemployability caused by service-connected disabilities. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration on an extra-schedular basis.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 19, 2018, for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a heart disability, due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the TDIU claim due to conflicting employment information.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's military occupational specialty carries a high probability of noise exposure and an adequate opinion must be obtained on remand regarding the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, tinnitus, painful scar, residual muscle injury from shell fragment wound, eczema, malaria, healed muscle damage, scar, and hearing loss. The housebound claim is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 50 percent from May 30, 2018. Prior to this date, the Veteran was not granted a compensable evaluation.,Service connection for a back disorder and neurological disorders of the lower extremities are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a nerve condition of the chest, arms, and back, chloracne, and epilepsy were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen any of these claims.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of audiometric findings meeting VA criteria for hearing loss. Service connection for tinnitus was denied based on a one-year presumption and continuity of symptomatology since service.,Service connection for a nerve condition of the chest, arms, and back and chloracne were denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions in service or related to service.,Service connection for epilepsy was denied due to lack of direct service connection based on in-service noise exposure, herbicide exposure, or continuity of symptomatology. Presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for service-connected right ear hearing loss prior to July 25, 2010, and an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss from July 26, 2010, were both denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for neurogenic bladder is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding his symptoms and their impact on employment.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU from June 13, 2017 through September 30, 2019 remains granted. However, a final decision cannot be rendered at this time as it is inextricably intertwined with the issue of a higher disability rating for neurogenic bladder.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU from October 1, 2019 is being remanded due to the need for an extraschedular evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as there was no in-service injury or disease, and the current condition is not related to service.