Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was found to have its onset during service and is currently present, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,There is no evidence of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes at any time during the appeal period, so his claim for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for scar, right great toe and right ear hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his scar, right big toe, and that he does not have an exceptional pattern of hearing impairment in his right ear.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and grants service connection. For bilateral hearing loss, the Board finds a remand necessary as the VA examination was inadequate.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been granted a 10 percent evaluation effective April 5, 2016.,A higher rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no current hearing loss disability in the right ear, and left ear hearing loss was rated at 0 percent. Hypertension, GERD, cervical spine degenerative joints with herniated nucleus pulposus, lumbar spine herniated nucleus pulpous with radiculitis down posterior leg, right knee effusion/degenerative changes, left knee degenerative changes, and OSA were not granted increased ratings or service connection.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss in both ears and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss disabilities as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. However, the Veteran's left ear hearing loss remains under consideration as new evidence has not been provided.,The Board has ordered a remand for further examination to determine if the Veteran currently has left ear hearing loss disability and whether it is related to his military service.

Service connection for a right elbow disability is dismissed.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for left ankle and right ankle disabilities are remanded.,Service connection for left foot bunions, corns and calluses, right foot bunions, corns and calluses, bilateral foot fungus and peeling, and left and right foot numbness are all remanded.,Service connection for headaches is remanded.,Service connection for Bell's palsy is remanded.,Service connection for a left shoulder disability is remanded.,Service connection for a left knee disability is remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss in the left ear is denied because he does not have a current disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has decided that the service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and Parkinson's disease should be remanded due to new evidence being added to the file by VA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The effective date of service connection is also being remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus as secondary to his service-connected hearing loss, finding that the evidence is in equipoise and resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's cervical strain, left ear hearing loss, lumbosacral strain, bilateral knee condition (left and right), and bilateral shoulder condition have all been granted service connection with a 10% rating for the cervical strain.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's reported stressors and his National Guard service status.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that there was no evidence of unemployability prior to April 24, 2014.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is being remanded for further examination and development, as his claim has not been fully addressed. Additionally, the TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing a link between the conditions and military service.,Specifically, the VA examiners found that the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was initially rated as noncompensable prior to April 3, 2019. Since then, the rating has been increased to 20 percent effective April 3, 2019.