Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's hearing loss was initially rated as noncompensable prior to April 6, 2014. From April 6, 2014 to April 4, 2015, he received a 10% rating for his hearing loss. After that date, the rating remained at 10%. The Board found that an earlier effective date of April 6, 2014 was warranted due to worsening symptoms.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and increased rating of various conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss and neurological condition was reopened. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of these claims, but denied both on the merits. The decision also remanded the cases for further development regarding bilateral hearing loss and Meniere's syndrome.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examiners and a need for additional development, including obtaining records of any recent VA treatment and providing the record to another qualified clinician for an opinion on whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at a 10% disability rating from March 13, 2019. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating for his hearing loss.

The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to September 5, 2018 is denied as his disability does not warrant a higher than 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral hearing loss from June 2009 to July 12, 2020 is being remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records and audiograms.

The Board has decided that it needs more information about whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is caused by his service-connected tinnitus, and therefore remands the case for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 0 percent (noncompensable) throughout the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for schizoaffective disorder, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder. Service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss have been denied. The Board found no current disability in the right ear, while finding Level III hearing loss in the left ear which does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to incomplete records and the need to locate additional medical records from his Air Force Reserve service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise, thus granting these conditions as related to military service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as service connected. The lumbar, cervical, and left hip disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and bilateral knee and ankle conditions are not service-connected.,The Veteran's respiratory condition, cervical spine condition, and erectile dysfunction may be related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether his hearing loss began in-service due to acoustic trauma. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, chest pain, nerve twitching, stomach cramps, and left ankle disorder have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection has been granted for these conditions.,Service connection has also been granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression) secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's disability is currently rated at 60 percent and does not warrant a higher rating. The case is remanded to develop the claim of total disability based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for peptic ulcer disease, right shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence in the record.