Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's mood disorder not otherwise specified (PTSD and depression) resulted in occupational and social deficiencies prior to February 7, 2019. Since then, the condition has led to significant impairment in work and social functioning.,Bilateral hearing loss was denied as the Veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The examiner failed to consider ASA to ISO-ANSI conversion policy in effect for audiograms performed between January 1967 and December 1970, and did not address which evidentiary standards and presumptions are applicable given the combination of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and regular active duty service. The examiner also relied on a 2005 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report regarding delayed onset of noise-induced hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and depression as secondary to hearing loss due to outstanding records that may contain pertinent information.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection, with the Board finding that there is at least as likely as not that these conditions were incurred in service.,Service connection for both bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been established based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing impairment is related to his in-service noise exposure. Service connection for residuals of burns was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or one at any time during the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not considered a compensable disability for VA compensation purposes, as his speech recognition scores were consistently above 94% in both examinations. Therefore, the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable prior to July 14, 2015 and at a 30 percent rating thereafter. The claim for increased ratings for the right knee, left knee, and thoracic spine disabilities are being remanded.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability remains rated at 30 percent from July 14, 2015 onwards. The claim for increased ratings for the right knee, left knee, and thoracic spine disabilities is also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to inability to contact the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss. A new VA examination is required.

The Veteran's appeal of his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is attributable to in-service noise exposure. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible statements of continuous hearing difficulty since service and his combat status.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and diabetes mellitus, type II due to unresolved issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active duty service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not attributable to his military service.,Both conditions were found to be directly related to service without any need for a presumption of exposure or secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss for VA purposes, thus denying service connection for these conditions.,For her fracture of 5th metatarsal of the right foot, the evidence is against a finding of moderate symptoms, leading to denial of an initial compensable evaluation.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if service connection can be established for bilateral hearing loss and a neck disability.

The appeal concerning entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is dismissed.,The appeals concerning initial increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD are dismissed.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to November 20, 2020 and has remanded the issue of service connection for heart disability. The case is now REMANDED for further development.