Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral foot disability due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection was denied for residuals of a cold injury to the feet as there is no current disability shown.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not increase in severity during service beyond its natural progression, and therefore, denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 50 percent from October 11, 2018 to the present. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted for this period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of chronic conditions in service or within presumptive periods. The Veteran's complaints of hearing loss and tinnitus were not noted until decades after separation from service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is due to in-service noise exposure and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that his current level of disability does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the case of bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the Veteran is entitled to a noncompensable rating from July 23, 2010, to August 12, 2019, and a 20 percent rating beginning August 13, 2019.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine strain with intervertebral disc disease (IVDS), right knee disability, left knee disability, and left ankle disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left hip disability and hearing loss due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's left hip disability may be related to physical activity in service, but this needs further clarification from a VA medical opinion. For his hearing loss, there is insufficient evidence to establish its relationship to service noise exposure.

The Veteran's schizophrenia, bilateral eye disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral foot disorder, hypertension, and respiratory disorder (bronchitis) are all granted service connection. The initial higher rating claim for seborrheic dermatitis is also addressed in the remand section.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right knee disability and hearing loss due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded for an addendum opinion addressing causation and aggravation by his service-connected flatfeet and right foot fracture residuals, as well as direct service connection. His hearing loss claim is also being remanded for a new medical opinion considering the Veteran’s noise exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a failure to obtain private treatment records, and will address these issues once VA receives the Veteran's completed forms.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss on a direct basis, finding that the Veteran had continuous symptoms since service and noise exposure during service. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted as new and material evidence was submitted, establishing a nexus between the condition and his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for diabetes mellitus, an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, and an earlier effective date for a hearing loss increase. The appeal is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is not found to be the cause of his death or a contributing factor. The Board also finds that he was not unemployable due solely to his service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran is presumed exposed to herbicides during his service in Vietnam, which may support a grant of service connection.