Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions began during service and have continued since then.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence from a private medical provider, Hearcare, Inc. and Associates.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development and readjudication due to incomplete fulfillment of the August 2018 remand directives.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision on the hearing loss claim is based on a lack of evidence showing that the Veteran's current hearing loss began during or was caused by his military service, while the psychiatric disorder claim requires additional medical opinion to determine if it is related to service.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for dyshidrotic eczema from April 14, 2014 to April 27, 2017 is granted at a 30% rating. The appeal is granted in part.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of his claim for allergic rhinitis. The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen his previously denied claims for panic disorder, sinus condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder), and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and squamous cell carcinoma remain unresolved.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development due to incomplete VA examination.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus due to the lack of a current diagnosis. The case is remanded for further development regarding bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) because the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities alone would preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded several issues for additional development, including service connection claims and rating determinations. The Veteran's left eye disorder is denied as not related to service or a current disability. Other issues such as eczema, respiratory disorders, psychiatric conditions, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right knee disorders are also remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with a Maryland CNC Word List speech recognition score of 94% in the right ear and 90% in the left ear. The Board finds that this level of hearing acuity does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and increased rating for left ear hearing loss due to a lack of a contemporaneous VA examination.

The Veteran's left ear sensorineural hearing loss and low back disability are granted service connection. The Veteran's right hip disability is remanded for further examination, and his right ear sensorineural hearing loss claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and OSA are granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The rating for his PTSD is maintained at 50%.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and he was granted TDIU effective September 8, 2010.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss disability and vertigo are related to service.

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

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to in-service acoustic trauma. The Veteran's preexisting left ear hearing loss was found to be aggravated by service.