Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further examination and opinion due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete and contradictory medical opinions from VA examiners. Additional VA treatment records are needed, and a new VA examination is required.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability and remanded the issues of service connection for a right shoulder disability and left ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, finding that his death was not caused or contributed substantially to by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has worsened, and he needs a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, but the Board has decided to remand these issues due to a procedural error in not considering the new evidence on their merits.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection for bilateral hearing loss and lumbar spine disorder. The appeals regarding increased ratings for atrial fibrillation, right ankle disorder, and right knee degenerative joint disease are remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was found to be at Level II, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The Board denied his claim for a compensable initial rating.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and review of recent evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service hearing loss or tinnitus to a compensable degree within one year after discharge from service.

The reduction of the rating for bilateral hearing loss from 50 percent to 30 percent effective as of October 1, 2016 was improper. The 50 percent rating is restored effective as of October 1, 2016.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the ratings of bilateral hearing loss and back disability, resulting in their dismissal.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss on a schedular basis and remanded the issue to determine if it should be rated extra-schedularly. The Director of Compensation Service determined that an extraschedular rating was not warranted as no unusual or exceptional disability pattern had been demonstrated that would render application of the regular schedular standards impractical.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran was not granted any new ratings or benefits in this decision.

The Veteran's tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, and PTSD are granted service connection. The right ear hearing loss claim is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for an adequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 80 percent since September 15, 2017. The Board denied an increase in ratings for the condition prior to that date.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction due to VA's failure to obtain records related to potential herbicide agent exposure during service.