Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for OSA, as it is unclear whether this condition is proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service connected. The Board found that the conditions were related to noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran withdrew all remaining issues associated with his appeal, leading to the dismissal of the case.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for left ear hearing loss, and the Board dismissed the claim.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral eye disability has been withdrawn and is dismissed.,Service connection granted for tinnitus, with the condition onset in service.,Service connection denied for left knee strain as it did not onset in service and is not causally related to his service.,Remanded for further examination and opinion regarding obstructive sleep apnea.,Remanded for further examination and opinion regarding an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder).,Remanded for further examination and opinion regarding a bilateral hearing loss disability.,Remanded for further examination and opinion regarding a lumbar spine disability.,Remanded for new VA examination to assess the nature and severity of functional diarrhea since January 2016.,Remanded for new VA examination to evaluate the nature and severity of residuals of left shoulder dislocation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to November 21, 2011, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The claim for service connection for right knee postoperative torn meniscus with osteoarthritis is reopened, and the case is remanded for further development. The Veteran's back disability, left ear hearing loss, and hypertension are also being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to December 21, 2012. The evidence did not show that his service-connected conditions rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues are being remanded.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but the claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent prior to November 18, 2019 and increased to 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran seeks a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's bladder disorder has been rated as noncompensable prior to November 18, 2019 and at 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran seeks a higher rating for his bladder disorder.,The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left hip was initially evaluated as noncompensable and remains so after November 18, 2019. The Veteran seeks a higher evaluation for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not manifest during or within one year of separation from service and is not otherwise related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to December 7, 2020, and in excess of 80 percent thereafter.

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

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and remanded the issue of a higher initial rating for coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction residuals.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to incomplete audiological testing results prior to February 12, 2021.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the submission of additional evidence that has not yet been reviewed by the AOJ. The case will be readjudicated with consideration of this new evidence, including the Veteran's statement regarding his symptoms of dizziness.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient clarification of whether early auditory threshold shifts observed during service are indicative of an earlier onset of hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was rated noncompensable from November 22, 2010 and continuing thereafter. The Board found that the severity of his right ear hearing loss at worst did not warrant a compensable rating for any part of the appeal period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a ruptured lumbar disc and right knee disability, as well as his claims for bilateral hearing loss and hip condition. The issues of service connection for these conditions have been remanded.