Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the issue of service connection for inclusion body myositis (IBM) due to TCE exposure. The claim for IBM is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a higher rating at any time during the appeal period. The case is being remanded for further development related to the claim for TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing disability under VA compensation criteria.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been withdrawn, and the issue is dismissed as a result.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of heat stroke, hypertension, epilepsy, cardiac arrhythmia, lower extremity edema (including spider veins), headaches, and neurological effects have all been denied.,There is no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions that his current conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is considered a disability for VA compensation purposes and was gradually present since separation from service. The Board granted service connection for this condition based on in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a skin disability due to exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange, and his post-service medical records show current diagnoses of skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma in-situ) and hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his exposure to loud noises during active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and disability ratings for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, left knee issues, PTSD, TMJ, tinea versicolor, hemorrhoids, GERD, and pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for otitis media, right ear and right ear hearing loss. The appeals for increased ratings of his residuals of a right facial fracture, posttraumatic headaches, low back disability, right shoulder disability, and right ankle disability were also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left elbow epicondylitis and bilateral hearing loss due to deficiencies in the September 2020 VA-contracted examination report, and because the complete reports from his October 2009 and January 2017 VA audiological evaluations are not associated with the claims file.

The Board has found that additional evidence was obtained after the issuance of previous statements of the case, and thus, a supplemental statement of the case must be issued.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to include as secondary to coronary artery disease (CAD), and tinnitus due to inadequate examination reports and procedural issues. A new VA examination is required for each issue.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his hearing loss, as it remained within the range of ratings available under VA regulations. For TDIU, the criteria were not met due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities not meeting the required percentage threshold.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to September 17, 2019. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of total disability due to service-connected conditions alone.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since August 31, 2010. The Board has granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a back disorder, left sciatica, and a left hip disorder due to lack of evidence showing in-service noise exposure leading to current hearing loss. The Veteran's representative provided medical articles supporting delayed-onset hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connection for accrued benefits purposes.,Service connection is granted for COPD to include as secondary to service-connected CAD, but hepatitis C is denied as secondary to service-connected disabilities.,A rating higher than 30 percent for CAD and a rating higher than 70 percent for depression are both denied.,An effective date earlier than March 17, 2011, for the grant of service connection for depression is denied.