Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent disabling. The Board has determined that the July 2017 VA examination may not be representative of his current hearing levels, and he now requires hearing aids without them. The Board also notes that his speech recognition scores from a March 2017 private audiogram are significantly different from those at the July 2017 VA examination. Therefore, the case is being remanded to obtain updated evidence and conduct another examination.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of compliance with a previous remand directive and because another VA examination is needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extraschedular rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the available schedular evaluations adequately describe his disability level and symptomatology.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and an ear disorder other than bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to her military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability, finding that it had its onset during military service and is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss, left foot avulsion fracture dorsal surface of navicular bone with degenerative arthritis, and asthma have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a current disability for hearing loss under VA regulations. For his left foot condition, the Board determined that symptoms were moderate but did not warrant a higher rating. Regarding his asthma, the RO granted an initial 10% rating in September 2012 and increased it to 30% effective February 21, 2020.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is granted, while his claims for bilateral hearing loss, chronic tonsillitis, bladder dysfunction, bilateral lower extremity sciatica, and erectile dysfunction are denied.,Service connection for depressive disorder is also granted.

The Veteran's OSA is currently rated at 50 percent, effective June 6, 2011. The Board denied a higher rating as the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his OSA was denied because no formal or informal claim prior to June 6, 2011 has been filed.,The Veteran is granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the Veteran’s physical limitations due to his service-connected conditions make it impossible for him to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development due to the Veteran's failure to report for a scheduled VA audiology examination. The examiner is requested to review all pertinent records and determine if the Veteran’s current bilateral hearing loss is causally related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and conducting VA examinations to assess the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions had their onset during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ear hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by or a result of in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate VA examination and missing medical records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss is related to acoustic trauma experienced during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have developed due to service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, while his left shoulder disability, low back disability, disabilities of both knees, bilateral hearing loss, and respiratory disability are denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension due to new and material evidence. The issue of secondary service connection for hypertension due to diabetes mellitus, type II is remanded.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was granted as a disability during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss prior to December 2, 2019 and beginning August 29, 2019 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to December 2, 2019 or in excess of 40 percent thereafter.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which are currently service-connected. The claims for these conditions are being remanded.