Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from September 7, 2018 to April 29, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is related to service exposure, as the previous VA examiner's opinion was inadequate.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request to readjudicate his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as no new and relevant evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Sjogren’s syndrome has been granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral flat feet, asthma, bilateral hearing loss, and low back disability have been denied. The claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis and tinnitus remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the grants of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against such a claim. The effective date assigned was October 17, 2018.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence does not support a causal relationship between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted because he experienced significant noise exposure during his military service and has had persistent symptoms of hearing loss since then.

The Board has granted effective dates of April 12, 2019 for the awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current disability found under VA criteria and the evidence does not show a nexus to service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is related to in-service noise exposure and remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing is still normal for VA compensation purposes and thus not meeting the criteria for a disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records, particularly audiometry results from August 2017 onwards.

The Veteran is granted TDIU from October 17, 2013 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, but remanded the cases of right knee disability and low back disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The examiner is asked to provide a new opinion based on the appellant’s reports of in-service noise exposure and post-service audiometric findings.

The Veteran's PTSD and insomnia disorder are granted with a 30% rating, effective August 28, 2013. The Veteran is also granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder. Other issues remain pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent from April 1, 2008 to February 3, 2017.,Service connection for residuals of head trauma including dementia and as secondary to service-connected PTSD is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ear hearing loss, finding that it is related to his military service and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities (sciatic and femoral nerves), and other conditions did not warrant higher ratings or service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being issued.