Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at a 10% effective from August 21, 2019. The rating is granted for this period.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a compensable rating prior to April 10, 2019 and greater than 10 percent from April 10, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability but denied service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current right knee disability is not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected due to exposure to noise during military service and the continuity of symptoms within one year post-service.

The Board has remanded the claims for hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of VA examinations. The lumbar spine disability claim is also being remanded for additional examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is dismissed as the claim has been moot due to the award of a 100% rating and SMC at the housebound rate.

The claim of service connection for tinnitus has been reopened and granted. The claim for PTSD is denied, but the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss remains at a 20% rating.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the inconsistency of test results from his last VA examination in December 2017. A new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of his hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable due to the severity of his hearing acuity, which is at Level I in both ears. The Board denied a higher rating for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability that meets the criteria for hearing loss under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not show an exceptional pattern of hearing impairment and his audiometric test results do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for right knee disability, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms will be considered in the new evaluations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and teeth condition. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded.,The evidence does not meet the criteria for a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or teeth condition under VA regulations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss on an extraschedular basis, and has remanded his claims of service connection for hypertension and TDIU.

The claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is reopened, and the appeal for bilateral hearing loss is granted. However, further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to be aggravated by service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The appeal regarding service connection for a left shoulder disability is dismissed.,TDIU for the period prior to July 2, 2012 is granted. SMC based on statutory housebound status under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) for the period beginning September 15, 2014, and no earlier, is granted.,The issue of TDIU for the period prior to July 2, 2012 is remanded.