Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional audiometric records and treatment notes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension (HTN), and hypothyroidism were dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted. Other claims are being remanded.

The Board has granted TDIU since October 4, 2016. The case is remanded for consideration of the claim prior to that date under extraschedular criteria.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that his puretone thresholds did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded because new evidence has been added to the file and he was recently awarded service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. He will be scheduled for VA examinations to assess the impact of his service-connected conditions on his occupational functioning.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was rated at 40% from April 26, 2010 to April 26, 2015. The Board granted TDIU effective January 1, 2012.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability, and the claim failed to meet the three-element test for direct service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence being added to the record, and the Veteran's request for consideration of this evidence. The claim will be reconsidered by the AOJ.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that his current hearing loss did not begin during service and is not attributable to service.

The Veteran requested to withdraw their appeal, and the Board has dismissed both claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted, but his claim for a higher rating for lumbar spine DDD with IVDS was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities alone do not render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and medical opinions to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral hearing loss are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating. The issues of service connection for right hip and bilateral foot conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD has been granted, while claims for left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to in-service exposure to acoustic trauma.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate VA medical opinions. Additional development is needed, including a new examination by an appropriate VA examiner.

The claims for hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, but service connection is denied.,Service connection for a dental condition as secondary to tonsillar head and neck cancer (claimed as respiratory cancer) has not been established.