Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, are found to be of such severity that they preclude his ability to maintain substantially gainful employment. The TDIU rating is granted. However, the issue of a higher rating for the back disability remains pending.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of migraine headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus for further evaluation due to assertions of worsening conditions and insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as Level II in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Board denied an increased rating for the disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran is requested to provide additional evidence, such as medical records or lay statements.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient reasons provided in the previous decision. The Veteran's claims are now reviewed again with a focus on obtaining an opinion regarding the onset and etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable since August 22, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a compensable rating due to the current level of hearing acuity in both ears.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and coronary artery disease were all granted service connection. The rating for the coronary artery disease was increased to 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases of tinnitus, bilateral tinea pedis, right foot surgery residuals (secondary to tinea pedis), and bilateral hearing loss for further development.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for right ankle disability is granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability are remanded due to the need for additional evidence or examination. The claim for migraine headache is denied as there was no established link between current headaches and service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for a service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability and entitlement to a total disability rating based on unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to make efforts to obtain missing VA treatment records, including any audiograms or hearing test results.

The Veteran's hearing loss was evaluated and found to be at Level III in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Board denied the claim as there is no evidence of service connection or exposure basis provided.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The examiner must provide a new opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, including conceded in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and bilateral hearing loss due to potential issues with delayed-onset reactions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, but the Board finds additional development is needed to determine if his current hearing loss disability is related to his military noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is not competent and probative evidence of a nexus between the current disability and his active military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's ability to work.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of various disabilities.,New and material evidence has been submitted, allowing the reopening of claims for bilateral hearing loss and stomach disability.