Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that new material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The reopening of this claim is granted, but the entitlement to service connection remains remanded due to insufficient VA medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that it did not manifest in service or within one year thereafter and is not otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there is no evidence of such a disability during the applicable period.,For left leg cold injury residuals, an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to October 4, 2012, and in excess of 20 percent from October 4, 2012, to December 6, 2014, was denied. The claim for a higher rating after December 6, 2014, was also denied.,For peripheral arterial disease of the left leg as a residual of cold injury, an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a special home adaptation grant is denied as he does not meet the criteria for such a grant due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to his service-connected hypertension. The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, and bilateral hearing loss are all rated at the minimum levels allowed by law. The Veteran's PTSD is assigned a rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not show that his hearing acuity has worsened to a degree warranting a higher rating since April 9, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is considered to be related to his military service, while the denial of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is based on a lack of evidence showing it was incurred during or as a result of his service.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU claims due to inadequate medical opinions and lack of substantial compliance with previous remands.

The appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection for traumatic brain injury and cervical spine disability is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability at any time during or recent to the filing of the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that it did not have its onset in or was otherwise due to his active service, including noise exposure therein.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU, as his combined evaluations were only 10 percent. The Board also found that there was no evidence of sufficient severity due to service-connected disabilities alone to preclude him from obtaining and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The issues of service connection for right lower extremity sciatica, left lower extremity sciatica, hearing loss (right ear), a right knee disability, and hypertension have been dismissed. The issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been granted.

The Board has remanded four issues: increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and ventricular arrythmia, service connection for benign prostatic hyperplasia, and service connection for ischemic heart disease. The Veteran is to be provided with VA examinations to assess the severity of his disabilities and determine their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of a hearing loss disability during service or within one year of separation. The Veteran's current hearing loss is attributed to occupational noise exposure after service.,The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, finding no evidence of tinnitus during service and attributing the condition to occupational and recreational noise exposure after service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for her left upper arm disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbosacral spine disability, and left knee disability due to lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and her military service. The appeals are being remanded for further development.

The reduction in rating from 20 percent to 0 percent for bilateral hearing loss was improper and the 20 percent rating is restored. The Veteran's claims for service connection of a lumbar spine disability and left hip disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury, bilateral hearing loss, right eye hyperphoria, lumbar spine disability, coronary artery disease, and pulmonary disorder are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records. The Veteran also has a compensable initial rating for his bilateral hearing loss from August 14, 2020.