Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted a 30 percent disability rating from September 12, 2016 to December 16, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 16, 2020.

The Veteran was granted service connection for a right knee disability and hearing loss effective December 2, 1993. The effective date for these awards is set at the earliest possible date based on the receipt of his application.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus and PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol/cocaine use disorder was granted effective September 30, 2015. The claims were not filed prior to this date.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and lower back disorder due to potential outstanding VA treatment records. An additional VA medical opinion is needed regarding the nature and etiology of any current lower back disorder.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was found to have begun in service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, depressive disorder, tinnitus, and disequilibrium, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to July 25, 2013. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from September 30, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but has remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and cervical spine disability, to include as secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine disability, were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a cervical spine disability in service or within one year thereafter, and it was not caused by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and military service. The Veteran reported noise exposure during service and ongoing symptoms since then.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to potential inconsistencies in medical opinions and need for further examination.

The Veteran's PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from July 26, 2010 to August 9, 2010. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted for this period.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential evidentiary defects, including incorrect service records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with new evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions in the VA examination reports, and additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the nature, severity, and etiology of her claimed conditions. The issues include service connection for bilateral hearing loss, evaluation of low back disability, migraine headaches, and hypothyroidism.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is sufficient evidence to support these claims based on noise exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss but remanded the issue of left ear hearing loss due to lack of audiometric results meeting VA criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they are related to his military service, with evidence showing symptoms since service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss was denied as his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for any higher rating under VA's schedular guidelines. The Board found that the disability picture is adequately contemplated by the rating schedule and there were no exceptional functional impairments.