Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent prior to December 30, 2019. From December 30, 2019, the rating was increased to 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left knee condition, right knee condition, back condition, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus due to incomplete or inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the spine, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, sinusitis (including chronic cough), and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to insufficient evidence in some cases.

The Veteran's service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is denied. The initial rating of 70 percent for major depressive disorder prior to January 24, 2017 is granted and the higher rating from that date onwards is denied. The effective dates for service connection are set at April 16, 2012, and February 26, 2015 respectively.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bronchial asthma, and COPD due to incomplete development of records from the U.S. Marshal Service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examination regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service, specifically considering persistent ear infections and delayed onset of hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a grant of TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for ischemic heart disease, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for a back disability. The appeal for service connection for basal cell carcinoma is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic hearing loss during service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not provide credible medical evidence to support his claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded substantially gainful employment for the period prior to April 21, 2010.,For the period of April 21, 2010, to June 7, 2010, a TDIU was granted due to PTSD and residuals of a gunshot wound to the right shoulder resulting from common etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 21, 2016. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not warrant a compensable rating based on the applicable Diagnostic Code.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that it is not related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or acoustic trauma. The Veteran's symptoms are not linked to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, anxiety, and various musculoskeletal conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since January 8, 2010. The Board has granted the TDIU from that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient opinions and potential new evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown in service or for many years thereafter and is not otherwise etiologically related to active duty service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's GAD has been rated at 50 percent since August 2012, and he is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hearing loss during the period prior to January 15, 2013, has been rated at 10 percent. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted.