Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions and further development is needed before a decision can be made on the service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable prior to August 11, 2015 and at a 10 percent rating thereafter. The Board found the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral recurrent tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the current tinnitus arose in service, and resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing impairment does not warrant such a rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right knee osteoarthritis. The case will be remanded to obtain new examinations and determine the etiology and severity of these conditions.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and arthritis of the lumbar spine has been granted.,The Veteran's current back disorder is presumed to have started during service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an examination to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss is related to his military service, specifically in-service ear infections.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records that may be relevant to his disability benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete evaluation of hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that his current hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma and granting the benefit of doubt.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA is instructed to obtain new medical opinions that address whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied due to his current employment. The Veteran's restrictive lung disease and bilateral hearing loss are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, so his claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his low back disability, right knee disabilities, left knee disabilities, and right ear hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU, and referral for extraschedular consideration is not warranted as his educational and occupational experience have not rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability and remanded the issues of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis and a compensable evaluation for right ear hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the case for a determination on whether TDIU should be granted on an extraschedular basis, as the Court found that the Board did not adequately address the Veteran's claim.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain relevant treatment records and provide an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right hip disability have not been found to be service-connected.,Service connection for a skin condition (melanoma) has also not been established. The Veteran's other specified trauma and stressor related disorder remains under review, with the Board finding that remand is necessary.