Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal disorder, PTSD, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied. The Board has remanded the cases of coronary artery disease, skin disorder, right ear hearing loss, headaches secondary to PTSD, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of February 1, 2013 for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities and TDIU status.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right eye disorder, a low back disorder, left ankle disorders, right ankle disorders, right shoulder disorders, right hand disorders, and headache disorders. The reasons given were that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service aggravation or incurrence for most conditions, and there was no current diagnosis for some conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and pressure in the left ear due to further development being needed. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, so the Board has dismissed the case.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to missing VA medical records from the Orlando VAMC, as well as private treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a permanent positive threshold shift in either ear and noting significant hazardous noise exposure during active service. The preponderance of the evidence did not support a link between the current hearing loss and service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since March 13, 2009. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right foot disorder have been denied. The application to reopen a claim of hypertension has been granted.,The Veteran’s claims are being remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, thus granting a TDIU as of February 1, 2010.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to December 30, 2019, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus is denied as there are no manifestations not contemplated by the current 10% rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, specifically addressing whether it had onset during service or is otherwise related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and other specified trauma/stressor related disorder, is granted. Bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent prior to July 1, 2019.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome due to new evidence. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and gastrointestinal disorder are denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to unclear audiometric data conversion and speculative findings regarding etiology.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating based on the audiometric results provided.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left hand paresthesia as there is no current disability found in the record.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is rated at 0 percent, as the evidence does not show a compensable level of impairment.,The Veteran's right fifth metacarpal fracture residuals are currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that higher ratings are not warranted due to lack of ankylosis and no limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the cases due to an error in a previous decision regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's case will be reviewed again with new evidence.