Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the true severity of his condition.

The Veteran's posttraumatic headaches and bilateral hearing loss were denied initial compensable ratings. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his service-connected posttraumatic headaches due to lack of characteristic prostrating attacks, and his bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable based on consistent audiometric findings.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to in-service noise exposure. Service connection was denied for residuals of colon cancer due to lack of evidence showing onset during service or within one year post-service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations, and therefore denied his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be secondary to his service-connected urothelial carcinoma (bladder cancer). The Board granted the claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's current hearing loss disability and its relationship to his period of INACDUTRA service. The Veteran will need to provide a 1998 hearing test result, and a VA examination is required to determine if he now has a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating prior to August 24, 2020 and a higher rating in excess of 20 percent effective on that date for his bilateral hearing loss disability. The Board found that the evidence did not show that the Veteran’s hearing loss was at a level warranting a compensable rating prior to August 24, 2020 or in excess of 20 percent beginning on that date.

The Veteran's appeal of his initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The Board has remanded the remaining issues due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has granted nonservice-connected pension benefits from June 2, 2009 to August 18, 2017. The issues of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability and service connection for psychiatric disorder (including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) and residuals of traumatic brain injury are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective from June 1, 2010 due to his service-connected disabilities. Prior to that date, the criteria for a TDIU were not met.

The Board has remanded the case to the Director of Compensation for consideration of a TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of complete audiological test results from January 23, 2017. The full and complete audiological testing results must be obtained and associated with the claims file.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, TBI, bilateral hearing loss, and left ankle scar, caused him to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of December 3, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and referral for extraschedular consideration is not warranted as his employment issues are due to nonservice-connected factors.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety), hypertension, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, blurred vision, and erectile dysfunction due to incomplete communication with the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the reliability of the previous VA examination results and the need for a new one with more usable testing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of a current disability during the appeal period.