Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently manifested by Level VIII hearing acuity in the right ear and Level I hearing acuity in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating under VA regulations. The appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to ensure that VA fulfilled its duty to assist the Veteran in connection with his claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss. The examiner's opinion as to the etiology of the disability should consider the Board's conceded in-service acoustic trauma, including noise from his military occupational specialty (MOS) of armor crewman and in-service acoustic trauma from two days of live fire in July 1967 resulting in treatment for ringing in the Veteran's ears.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, multiple sclerosis, and kidney condition were denied. The Board found that the current conditions are not related to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation prior to March 27, 2019, and a rating in excess of 10 percent from March 27, 2019 to August 27, 2020, or a rating in excess of 20 percent thereafter.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to inadequate medical opinion in the December 2017 VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active military service. The claims were previously denied due to lack of new and material evidence, but with the addition of relevant service records, they have been reopened.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability, as well as for obtaining any outstanding treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim is also being referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration due to interference with employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including affording the Veteran new VA examinations. The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is not related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension due to issues with obtaining an adequate opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's disabilities and his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for tinnitus is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the hearing loss claim.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent effective April 14, 2021. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted before this date.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss was denied across all stages of evaluation from February 21, 2018 to October 8, 2020.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding no current disability. The claim for left ear hearing loss was granted as the evidence supported a link to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for syphilis, arthritis, bilateral foot disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's claimed syphilis. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to active service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The issues of TDIU were also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure, but requires further examination and opinion due to incomplete or insufficient evidence.

Your appeals for service connection have been dismissed because you opted into the modernized review system under the AMA, and your legacy appeal is now closed.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional information from the Veteran.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence does not show a relationship to military service.