Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational experience. The Board denied the claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to May 2, 2014.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is denied, with the exception that it may be secondary to service-connected tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his service, including exposure to hazardous noise levels during basic training. As a result, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 40 percent from July 12, 2012 to December 9, 2012. The rating was then reduced to 30 percent from December 10, 2012 to October 20, 2015. From October 21, 2015, the Veteran's hearing loss was rated as noncompensable until November 7, 2019 when it was rated at 40 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability is related to in-service acoustic trauma. The decision also notes that there was an inadequate negative nexus opinion and a positive nexus opinion from a private audiologist supporting the claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted a 10 percent evaluation from September 4, 2013 to December 14, 2017. Prior to that date, the Veteran did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he is still capable of sedentary work.

The Veteran's right eye condition is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed condition.,The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed condition, including whether it was caused by in-service acoustic trauma.,The Veteran's lung condition is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed condition, including exposure to herbicides, asbestos, or jet fuel fumes during service.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed condition, including exposure to herbicides, asbestos, or jet fuel fumes during service.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD is remanded for additional development to verify in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and prostate condition are remanded due to the need for clarification regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, do not render him unemployable due to his significant past work experience as a police officer.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations based on incorrect service treatment records. A new examination is required to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss began during or was caused by his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is as likely as not attributable to his now service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete records and failure to comply with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a nerve disability was granted, and he was awarded service connection for tinnitus, sleep apnea, headache disability, and TDIU. The remaining issues were remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right ear hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service hazardous noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service. The examiner was asked to provide an opinion on this matter.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to military noise exposure and concluding that any potential hearing loss developed after separation from service.

The Veteran's effective date for the increased rating of 70 percent for generalized anxiety disorder is set at November 2, 2016. The effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits are also set at this date.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and ischemic heart disease render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, resulting in a grant of TDIU.