Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from March 1, 2017 onward due to service-connected disabilities. However, the case is remanded for consideration of whether a TDIU should be awarded from October 1, 2013 to March 1, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the current severity of his hearing loss and service connection for these conditions. The Veteran is also asked to provide any relevant private records related to Eustachian tube surgery.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is also required to undergo a VA examination to assess the severity of his left thigh disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claim of service connection for tinnitus was dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection in a prior rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current recurrent tinnitus had its onset during active military service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss and Sydenham's chorea are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected asthma. Other conditions are denied.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The decision did not address the issue of service connection under the PACT Act, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, or other presumptive exposure bases.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate explanation in a prior rating decision and insufficient examination. The Veteran's hearing loss disability is impacting his ability to work, especially in environments with noise.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of bilateral hearing loss, as well as a VA examination for the claimed right leg disorder.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if referral for extraschedular TDIU is warranted for the period prior to May 4, 2013 due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease in service or within one year after discharge. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's hearing loss is not related to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been denied as his puretone threshold averages do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are insufficient to adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran is therefore being remanded for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, cold weather injury to upper extremities, and cold weather injury to lower extremities due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied because the evidence did not show that the Veteran had a hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable disability rating for laceration of the right hand, and for whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for left ankle disability and low back disability are dismissed. The claim for service connection for neck disability is denied as no new and material evidence was submitted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted.