Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service connected. The left ear hearing loss case is remanded for a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss as there is no current disability for VA purposes.

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 noise exposure during military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's claims for service connection are not granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for left ear hearing loss was denied as there is no current diagnosis of a disability and the evidence does not show that he had a chronic condition during service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective September 25, 2019. The claim for an initial compensable rating prior to that date has been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and other conditions, have rendered him unemployable since December 2, 1996. The decision grants a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and his coronary artery disease myocardial infarction associated with herbicide exposure warrants a 30 percent rating. His diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction associated with herbicide exposure remains at 20 percent.,Both the Veteran’s coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus require regulation of activities to manage their effects, but neither warrant an increased rating.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for anaphylaxis and remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, sleep disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorders. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, service connection for chronic residuals of hepatitis B, gastrointestinal condition, hypertension, and a back condition are REMANDED due to the failure to obtain VA examinations as instructed in the March 2018 Board remand.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is found to be etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained during active service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied in April 2006, and the denial became final. New evidence received since then did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was also denied as there was no competent evidence showing that it was related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating above 60 percent for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the AOJ not substantially complying with a previous Board Remand directive. The missing audiometric summary from October 21, 2016 needs to be obtained.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of headaches has been granted, with a 50 percent disability rating.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (major depressive disorder and panic disorder) has also been granted.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) was denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied, with the Board finding that there is no current disability meeting VA's definition of hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of an adequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hearing loss is caused or aggravated by his diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus due to outstanding relevant treatment records not being associated with his claims file.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded for a VA audiology evaluation to determine the current level of severity.

The Veteran's claim for a separate 10 percent rating for tinnitus from August 26, 2013 is granted. The earlier effective date and compensable rating claims are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities was denied as his unemployability is not solely due to these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or housebound status was also denied, with the main reasons being that his non-service connected conditions are the primary causes of his disability.