Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a request from his attorney for copies of the VA examination and medical opinion related to this issue.

The Veteran's hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and his peripheral neuropathy of the right foot is not service connected.,There is no evidence linking the Veteran’s current peripheral neuropathy to in-service herbicide exposure. The Board found insufficient medical opinion regarding a link between the Veteran's symptoms and his presumed exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus were granted service connection as they began in service and have continued since then.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss, major depressive disorder, and tinnitus) are found to be so severe that they prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year of separation and is not shown to be causally related to an in-service injury or disease. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, thus entitling him to special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance. The issue of SMC based on being housebound is dismissed as moot due to the grant of SMC by reason of aid and attendance.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is believed to have started during her military service, while the hearing loss was not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss before January 29, 2020 and a higher rating after that date is denied. The case is also remanded to determine if the Veteran should be granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting the definition of a VA compensation disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sinus disability other than allergic rhinitis is denied as there is no evidence of a current sinus disability that was incurred in or caused by service.

The Veteran's case is remanded due to incomplete audiometry results from a recent VA examination. The AOJ needs to obtain the missing Puretone threshold results or arrange for a new VA audiological evaluation.

The Board has found that the VA opinion relied on an Institute of Medicine (IOM) study, which was inadequate. The IOM study had contradictory findings regarding delayed onset hearing loss. Another remand is required to obtain a fully developed medical opinion addressing these issues.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn.,Service connection for sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) has been granted due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss, as there is no evidence of current disability. Service connection for a right knee disorder and a left knee disorder was also denied due to lack of medical opinion on the etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and his service-connected tinnitus. The right ear hearing loss was found to have pre-existed service but not be aggravated by service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of current evidence meeting VA criteria. The claims for residuals of a right fifth finger fracture, right shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Veteran's PTSD is now rated at 100% from November 16, 2020, and the issue of a higher rating prior to that date remains on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for his service-connected right ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting audiometric test results and a need for a new VA audiological examination to reconcile these findings.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a compensable degree of hearing loss within one year of separation from service. The Board also found no continuity of symptomatology since service.