Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was clearly and unmistakably erroneous, resulting in restoration of service connection being denied. The Veteran also has other issues that are not addressed here.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that it is related to the Veteran's in-service hazardous noise exposure from his duties as an engineman in the Navy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) or eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA).

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions from VA audiologists and a need for a new examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, which was aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability. The other issues of service connection have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their onset during service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal of the rating decision seeking a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and granted service connection for it. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back disability, left ankle disability, asthma, and hypertension are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's right shoulder strain is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of limitation of motion midway between side and shoulder level.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was remanded as there are no clear indications of etiology.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection due to their withdrawal of the appeals.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of increased rating for right knee osteoarthritis, service connection for erectile dysfunction and left ear hearing loss, and TDIU. The case will be remanded to ensure compliance with prior remand instructions.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI).,Prior to April 23, 2015, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for an increased disability rating. From April 23, 2015 onwards, a 10 percent disability rating was granted.

The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the period prior to May 31, 2016 due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is presumed via PACT Act.

The Veteran's hypertension was found to have manifested within a year after separation from service, meeting the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not manifest within one year of separation from active service or were otherwise unrelated to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA audiometric testing and ensure the results are in accordance with the Maryland CNC word list, which was used during his last VA examination. Additionally, the Veteran should be afforded an audiological examination to determine the current level of severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not related to his military service. The Veteran's lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and hypertension have been remanded for further examination.,The Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in Vietnam but does not meet the criteria for early-onset peripheral neuropathy or sufficient evidence of an association with hypertension.