Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is due to acoustic trauma during his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or jet fuel exposure causing the current condition. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a continuity of symptoms from service to present time.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between his in-service noise exposure and his current hearing loss.

The appeal contesting the propriety of the severance of service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted, and restoration of service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted. The appeals regarding diabetes, left upper extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, erectile dysfunction (ED), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and a psychiatric disorder to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are all remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has found that a remand is necessary to ensure compliance with the duty to assist, as required. The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were not of such severity to render him unable to secure and follow substantial gainfully occupation, consistent with his occupational history and educational attainment prior to January 14, 2014. The Board denied the claim for a TDIU prior to January 24, 2014.

The appeals seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, hypertension, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, left hip disability, left quadricep disability, heart disability, and colon cancer have been dismissed.,The appeal seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including unspecified depressive disorder), obstructive sleep apnea, and headaches has been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. However, his claims for bilateral hearing loss and a higher rating for bronchial asthma are denied.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of August 5, 2014 for the service connection of prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The reduction of the rating for bilateral hearing loss from 10 percent to zero percent disabling, effective May 18, 2010, was proper. The appeal is denied.,A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) prior to January 6, 2021, is granted.,The Veteran's service-connected conditions have significant impact on his ability to maintain employment and the evidence shows that he worked as a driver. The TDIU appeal for after January 6, 2021, is remanded.

The Board has found that further development is needed due to the inadequacy of the February 2017 VA opinion and the Veteran's assertion of worsening hearing loss since his last examination. The case is remanded for a new VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 30 percent, effective March 19, 2019. The Board found that the condition did not warrant a higher rating prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and bilateral hearing loss may be related to service, but needs further clarification due to incomplete medical records. The case is being remanded for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the current opinions are inadequate. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus to service and that the Veteran's current hearing loss began outside of the one-year presumptive period after his separation from active duty.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent rating, effective October 31, 2013. He also received a grant of TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities preventing him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.,Bilateral hearing loss was not found to warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new opinion is required regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for hearing loss and pseudofolliculitis barbae, hair loss, or keloids.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a back injury are remanded due to procedural issues.,Service connection is also remanded for the claim of service connection for a GI disorder including GERD and residuals of bowel obstruction.