Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and a right knee disability, renders him unemployable due to significant symptoms that preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a tremor disability and compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for splenectomy residuals due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues.

The Veteran's initial ratings for slowed speech, swallowing difficulties, asbestosis, right and left upper extremity weakness, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The Board has found that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.,Service connection for tinnitus has also been remanded due to conflicting opinions in the medical records.

The Veteran's CAD, lumbar spine disability, and hypothyroidism are all rated at their maximum allowable levels. The Veteran does not have a compensable rating for GERD with hiatal hernia or left ear hearing loss.,VA has determined that the Veteran's conditions do not warrant ratings in excess of those currently assigned.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied. The Board has found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, and remanded the issues regarding degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine and left knee lateral meniscectomy.

The Board has found the most recent VA examination inadequate and remanded for a new one to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of clarity regarding when and where the Veteran initially filed his claims for service-connected disabilities. The appellant needs to provide additional documentation or information to substantiate her claim.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of left ear hearing loss has been dismissed because the appellant withdrew his appeal through his authorized representative.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a left arm disorder, hemorrhoids, skin disorder (dermatitis), and lumbar cyst due to incomplete records and need for updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU and DEA benefits from February 24, 2010 to May 8, 2018 due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for residual lung scarring due to pneumonia and remanded the claim of a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease claim is still pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his service-connected hallux valgus of the right and left feet, including an examination to assess any additional disabilities such as hammer toes.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance effective January 1, 2013. The Board found the AOJ's decision to grant these benefits on July 16, 2018, was incorrect and awarded earlier effective dates of January 1, 2013.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for PTSD, left ear hearing loss, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy. However, due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, these claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities. The issue of special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection, with the Board finding that the current disabilities are related to his in-service exposure to acoustic trauma.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II has been granted, but an increased rating is denied as the evidence does not show that the disability requires insulin, a restricted diet, and regulation of activities.

The Veteran's appeal for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance was denied as he is not in need of regular aid and assistance from another person.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss, fatigue secondary to OSA, and several other conditions have been denied. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a current disability in some of these cases.,Service connection for right elbow condition, left elbow condition, left hip condition (secondary to trochanteric bursitis), and left knee condition (secondary to patellofemoral syndrome) has also been denied.

The Veteran's appeal to reduce their disability rating for bilateral hearing loss from 10 percent to 0 percent effective November 18, 2020 has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew all issues before the Board.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss did not begin during service and is not causally related to noise exposure during his active service.