Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was granted. However, the Board found that there is no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and service, thus denying service connection.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of punctured right ear drum and bilateral hearing loss due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and restrictive lung disease with asbestosis due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of his service-connected respiratory disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD and remanded the issue of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's right hip osteoarthritis was granted service connection and an effective date of the grant is set.,An effective date prior to February 5, 2018 for the grant of service connection for tension headaches is denied. The Veteran submitted a formal claim on April 27, 2018.,The Veteran's initial claims for left ear hearing loss and back disability are remanded as his current level or nature of these disabilities may not be reflective of the evidence of record.,The Veteran's neck disability is also remanded as his current level or nature of this disability may not be reflective of the evidence of record.,The Veteran's initial claim for tension headaches is remanded as his current level or nature of this disability may not be reflective of the evidence of record.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent from October 13, 2009 to March 6, 2015. The rating for the back disability remains at 40 percent during the entire period on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to unclear findings in a previous VA examination and the need for an additional opinion.

The Board dismissed all withdrawn issues related to PTSD, bilateral shoulder disabilities, pinguecula, and other conditions. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70% for the period prior to May 6, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and right lower extremity radiculopathy were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss, and that he did not meet the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his right lower extremity radiculopathy prior to November 9, 2020, or in excess of 60 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, to include as secondary to exposure to herbicide agents, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a relationship between the Veteran’s claimed condition and his active duty service or any event, injury, or disease during service. Service connection for TDIU prior to July 31, 2018, was also denied as the Veteran's combined disability rating did not meet the threshold percentage requirements.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the disabilities and active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, leading to their dismissal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete verification of the Veteran's duty status and travel during a motor vehicle accident in April 1967.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's most recent VA audiological examination was in November 2012. The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA hearing loss rating determination due to lack of current evidence and possible increase in severity since the last examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and a respiratory disorder, including sinusitis, rhinitis, bronchitis, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The decision on these issues is pending further review.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a disability of the right eye (vision), and left foot numbness as they are all related to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's combined disability rating prior to February 14, 2020 was only 60%, which did not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss can be adjudicated. The case was previously remanded multiple times and returned to the Board in October 2020, which set aside the previous August 2019 decision and remanded it for further proceedings.