Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from June 10, 2004 to April 20, 2010. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board denied service connection for right-ear hearing loss as there is no probative evidence of a current diagnosis meeting the criteria for qualification as a disability for VA purposes.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are more likely due to natural progression of age-related hearing loss rather than in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated and found to be noncompensable throughout the appeal period, resulting in a denial of an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at a 40 percent rating, but no higher, since August 7, 2014.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. Service connection for vasomotor rhinitis is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA-contracted examiner to address the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chorioretinitis, pain of the mid-back, bilateral hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss have all been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a finding that any of these conditions began during active service or were otherwise related to in-service events.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right knee condition due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking an opinion on whether his current conditions are related to his military service, including noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Meniere's Syndrome due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus and bilateral hearing loss due to potential issues with the opinions provided in the July 2016 VA examinations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus was denied. His bilateral hearing loss received a temporary increase to 90% from April 8, 2019 to January 16, 2020 and then his claim for an increased rating beyond that point was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and any pre-existing condition did not worsen during service. The Veteran's testimony regarding a noise exposure event is considered insufficient to establish a nexus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and sustaining employment, as his combined disability rating was only 60 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to missing audiological test results from February 9, 2018. The VA needs to request these records from the McClellan CBOC.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and an increased rating for PTSD are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations.

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 a significant change in hearing sensitivity during service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have actual sensorineural hearing loss within one year of service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including low back strain with degenerative joint disease. The TDIU will be granted but without an effective date.