Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to service, and therefore grants her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's initial 50 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss is granted from October 16, 2013 to November 15, 2019. A higher rating of 70 percent or above is denied for the period beginning on November 16, 2019.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically unspecified trauma and stress disorder. The Board also found that there is sufficient evidence to grant service connection for this condition. However, the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus remain pending as additional VA examinations are needed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not rated as compensable.,Service connection for a lung disorder, to include tuberculosis, and service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder are both denied.,Service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other conditions, has rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from April 17, 2009, to January 10, 2013. The Board granted the TDIU during this period.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of his testimony regarding his hearing difficulties with female voices.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been reopened, and he is granted a noncompensable rating for his right ear hearing loss. The issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss remains pending and must be remanded to obtain an etiological opinion.

The Board denied service connection for Meniere's disease as it is not secondary to service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran was granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to his PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records and need for further examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection are not decided at this time.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation for the period prior to January 25, 2016. Therefore, a TDIU is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a spinal disorder, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a respiratory disability. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to military hazardous noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to the lack of available service treatment records and the need for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 12, 2008.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as 0% disabling, and the Board has remanded for further development of his claim for TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the case for further development regarding bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to concerns about the Veteran's hearing loss, including obtaining records of a private audiogram and determining if his current hearing loss is related to service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for additional examinations and development to address the issues of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral foot condition, headaches, dermatitis, and a claimed sinusitis. The Veteran will be provided with VA medical examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a link between his current condition and his military service.