Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints, SMC based on need for aid and attendance, and eligibility for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a cervical spine disability, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.,Service connection is not granted as there is no evidence linking the Veteran's lumbar spine condition or bilateral hearing loss to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a mouth condition, and a back condition due to new evidence received after the March 2017 SOC.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 20 percent from May 15, 2013 to October 4, 2019 and in excess of 30 percent thereafter. The rating for the period prior to October 4, 2019 is denied.

The claim for service connection for mixed hyperlipidemia was denied as new and material evidence was not submitted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, anemia, chronic kidney disease, respiratory disability, rheumatoid arthritis, and psychiatric disability were granted due to in-service noise exposure during combat in Vietnam.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal, including the claims for service connection for sinusitis and reopening previously denied claims of service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability, a back disability, a right knee disability, and a left knee disability.

The Board has determined that a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss is not warranted prior to January 1, 2019. From January 1, 2019 to December 19, 2019, the Veteran's disability was rated at 10 percent. Effective December 19, 2019, a rating of 30 percent is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete information regarding his service dates and medical opinions addressing the etiology of his claimed disabilities. The claims are related as they all involve issues stemming from the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment from December 25, 2013 through September 7, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities at least as likely as not result in him needing regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the possibility of increased severity since his last VA examination, as well as potential service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) is granted. The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction on a secondary basis to his service-connected hypertension. The rating for coronary artery disease with coronary aneurysms remains at 30 percent, as it does not meet the criteria for higher ratings due to lack of congestive heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that he does not meet the criteria for a current disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions began during his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain VA treatment records and for an addendum medical opinion regarding his sleep apnea. The TDIU claim will be considered again as part of the increased PTSD rating claim.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral ear hearing loss disability warrants a higher initial rating, and whether his dizziness and balance issues are related to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was determined to have begun during service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.