Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's bladder cancer is presumed to be service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.,PTSD and alcohol use disorder are currently not considered disabling, as they are in full remission. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,Left ear hearing loss is conceded but its etiology remains unclear.

The Veteran is granted a 10 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss from September 8, 2010 through December 7, 2014. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating or earlier effective date.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been manifested by hearing acuity no worse than level III in the right ear and level III in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable (0%) disability rating. The Board denied an initial compensable disability rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to verify the Veteran's periods of service and obtain any outstanding records, including treatment records. The claims for service connection are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 2, 2017 was denied. The effective date of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is set at December 22, 2009.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 2, 2017 was also denied. He currently has a 100% disability rating from that date.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.,An effective date of April 24, 2019 is assigned for a 100 percent rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder.,An effective date of March 5, 2019 is assigned for the award of TDIU.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss have been granted service connection as they are related to in-service acoustic trauma. The Board found that the Veteran experienced continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that meets VA criteria.

The appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and bilateral foot disorder has been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted, with a current evaluation.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to May 26, 2017, for service connection of right ankle degenerative arthritis and tinnitus. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU are REMANDED due to lack of VA treatment records from 1995 to 2010. The claims for back disability and right knee disability are also REMANDED.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and lacerations of the lower back. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not found to be related to his active service.,There was no evidence of onset or aggravation during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure, and his left ear hearing loss was aggravated by service. The Veteran's tinnitus is also found to be at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus has been granted.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral vision loss, colon condition, hypertension, cognitive disorder, and thyroid disorder due to outstanding private treatment records and a need for a medical opinion regarding their relationship to the Veteran's bladder cancer.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus has been withdrawn. Service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted, with the grant of service connection being based on a presumption of in-service noise exposure. The case is remanded for further examination and evaluation regarding his back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated and found to correspond to a noncompensable disability rating, as the audiometric results did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA regulations. The Board denied an increased rating.

The Veteran's combination of service-connected disabilities is not shown to render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU claim has been denied.

The Veteran's hypertension has been granted service connection. The left trunk disability, hypothyroidism, and other conditions have been remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for right humeral fracture, right radial nerve neuropathy, hearing loss, TMJ dysfunction, right index finger fracture, and inguinal hernia as the evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss have been remanded due to the need for further evidentiary development.,For his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, the VA examiner was unable to provide a diagnosis or opinion without resorting to speculation.