Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to noise exposure in active service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of chronic hearing loss in service or within a presumptive period, and that the current hearing loss is not related to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for otitis media, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted.,Service connection has been established for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and peripheral vestibular condition are granted as service-connected. The case is remanded for further examination to determine the nature of the Veteran's peripheral vestibular condition, its relationship to his tinnitus and sensorineural hearing loss, and any other relevant factors.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's competent and credible lay evidence is sufficient to establish a nexus between service and tinnitus. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or current disability within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected perforated tympanic membrane of the left ear with scarring, pain and dizziness has been denied. The maximum schedular rating available under current VA regulations is 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for an earlier effective date and service connection for a gastrointestinal disability are dismissed.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability is granted, but the appeal for prostate and vocal cord disabilities remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to the need to obtain additional medical opinions and records. The primary issue is whether the Veteran's nasopharyngeal cancer/nasopharynx carcinoma was related to herbicide agent exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right ankle disability due to incomplete records and need for additional development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is remanded, as are his claims for increased ratings and TDIU. The VA will obtain treatment records, schedule examinations, and provide an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current hearing impairment and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination and failure of VA to obtain all relevant medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's INACDUTRA with the National Guard of Minnesota was federalized service, and if so, whether his current bilateral hearing loss is a delayed response to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance due to her spouse's service-connected disabilities prior to his death. The Board found that the Veteran had difficulty attending to activities of daily living, including dressing and bathing, due to his service-connected cold injury residuals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board also denied DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a neck disability have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for lumbar and heart disabilities, bilateral hearing loss disability. The remaining claims were denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent disabling. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to reassess the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss due to an outdated VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss because he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.