Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of consideration of a December 2016 VA audiological examination report. The AOJ is instructed to review the evidence and readjudicate the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete service records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service. The Veteran also had an unsuccessful attempt at securing a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to lack of any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 60 percent, and the RO has proposed to decrease it from 50% to 40%. The appeal for higher a disability evaluation remains before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss from July 10, 2017 was denied. The Veteran's request for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for food allergies due to exposure to environmental hazards during his military service is pending. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as he currently meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU, but his full-time employment in a leadership position until February 2019 indicates that his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantial gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection was not received within a year of his Intent to File, and the effective date is denied as it should be August 10, 2015.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been manifested by hearing acuity of no worse than Level III in the right ear and no worse than Level II in the left ear, resulting in a 0 percent disability rating. The Board denied the claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claim of a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete development and the need to obtain a copy of a September 2016 audiogram.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hearing loss and service-connected diabetes. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a new VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that he had a pre-existing condition which was aggravated by in-service noise exposure.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations, and his tinnitus was not present during service or related to service. The Veteran's heart disability is not considered ischemic heart disease.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of hearing impairment or tinnitus in service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no medical opinion connecting the current condition to his active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability, and any in-service noise exposure did not result in a compensable degree of hearing loss within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal. The appeals for service connection for eye condition and tinnitus are remanded.