Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's left ankle disability was initially rated at 10% prior to December 19, 2019. After remanding for additional development, the Board found that his symptoms more nearly approximated marked limitation of motion from December 19, 2019 and granted a 20% rating effective that date.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as not compensable prior to this decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, skin condition (including scars), and headache condition due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as he can still secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation with his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has ordered a new examination to determine the nature and cause of the Veteran's hearing loss disability, which is currently remanded due to invalid audiometric test results. The examiner must assess whether the Veteran has a current hearing loss disability related to noise exposures in service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied in an August 2006 rating decision. The claim of service connection for a head injury was also denied, but reopened due to new evidence submitted.,An effective date prior to August 17, 2016, is denied for the awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's request to reopen his finally disallowed claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted. A rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is granted, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at zero percent, which is the lowest possible rating. The Board denied a compensable disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of right ear hearing loss disability, finding that there is no objective evidence of hearing loss for VA purposes that had onset during active duty or was related to a history of military noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to November 18, 2015. The decision denies entitlement to TDIU based on the schedular rating and lack of additional service-connected disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted a 40 percent rating, but no higher, prior to August 23, 2018. The left and right knee disabilities as well as the cervical spine disability were denied service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional audiometric evaluations and a review of relevant VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD and depression), and a lumbar spine disability. The remand includes obtaining addendum opinions from VA examiners regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and no medical nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his claimed condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, finding that his audiometric results did not support a higher evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing right ear hearing loss was not aggravated by his military service and his left ear hearing loss did not manifest during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure. The case will be returned for further development and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions in a prior VA examination. The Veteran needs to be reexamined to determine if his current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has remanded the issue for further development. The service connection for a sleep disorder remains denied.

The Veteran's case is being remanded to schedule him for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to in-service noise exposure and concluding that his current hearing loss is not at least as likely as not related to an injury or disease in service.

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