Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD with depression and for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The decision found that there was no direct or secondary evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records that may be relevant to the Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss due to inadequate rationale in a previous VA opinion and failure to consider all submitted medical literature.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of current disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability have been reopened. The claim for tinnitus is granted as the evidence now shows a link to service, while the hearing loss claim remains pending due to lack of recent VA examination.

The appeal of the claim seeking service connection for bilateral eye disorder, asthma, COPD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus has been dismissed.,The appeals of the claims seeking service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, OSA, and diabetes mellitus have been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for a TDIU from March 16, 2010, to June 17, 2013. The adverse symptomatology caused by his service-connected conditions were both contemplated and considered in the rating schedule.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for updated medical records and an examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the requisite schedular percentages for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to February 24, 2017. The Board found that his service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and liver disability. The Board found that there was no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year of separation, and did not establish continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable prior to August 3, 2015 and as 10 percent disabling from August 9, 2016 to present. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea and increased ratings for his hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his condition, including obtaining a modified performance intensity function if applicable.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for service-connected PTSD and bilateral hearing loss prior to March 10, 2018 was denied as the evidence does not show he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete VA examination opinions. The Veteran is presumed to have had normal hearing at entry into service, but his right ear hearing loss may be related to military noise exposure. His left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not linked to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is considered to have been incurred in and due to his time in service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The appeal seeking DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied as the Veteran was not in receipt of, nor entitled to receive, compensation for service-connected disability that was continuously rated totally disabling for a period of at least 10 years immediately preceding death or for a period of 5 or more years immediately following discharge from service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate previous examinations and the need for a new medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hearing loss and service-connected conditions, including diabetes.