Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has decided that a compensable disability rating prior to December 8, 2020 and in excess of 80 percent thereafter for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to missing audiogram records.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to the need for additional records and an examination to assess his employability given his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran's kidney and bladder cancer cases are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diverticulitis was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal. The appeals for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a thoracolumbar spine disability are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss effective September 24, 2019. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's right hand/finger disability, which includes limitation of motion and reduced grip strength.

The Veteran's service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is granted. The claims for increased disability rating for left knee, bilateral hip condition and neurocognitive disorder are remanded due to new evidence added to the record. Service connection for diastolic heart failure, hypertension, asthma, COPD and sleep apnea, as well as bilateral hearing loss and seizure disorder are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and a TDIU rating related to his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need to obtain missing audiometric test results.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a chronic disability within one year after discharge, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the current condition is related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss rating is restored to 60 percent, and a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted effective from November 19, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for hypertension has been remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding presumed exposure to herbicides during service.,The Veteran's claim for peripheral neuropathy, OSA, and peripheral artery disease secondary to diabetes mellitus type II has been remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim for initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been remanded due to the need for a VA examination.,reasoning

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Service connection for asbestosis is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise with regard to showing these disabilities are etiologically related to in-service noise exposure. The issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disability remains pending as it was remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and IBS due to incomplete examinations and outstanding treatment records. The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, while his IBS claim requires additional medical examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The appeal for service connection of migraines is dismissed. The appeals for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression) and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for cervical strain, bilateral knee strains, respiratory disorder (including rhinitis and asthma), and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims were not supported by probative medical evidence showing the conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.,There is no clear and unmistakable evidence of a preexisting condition at induction.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea and remanded it for further development. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is also remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss as there is no current disability meeting VA compensation criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, and both conditions are now considered service-connected.