Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection for a neck disability, low back disability, and chronic migraines were also denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board found that it does not warrant an increased rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further evaluation. The appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied.

The appeals for service connection and disability evaluations related to bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and coronary artery disease have all been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for sarcoidosis, but the issues regarding heart disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an earlier effective date than December 31, 2020 for the grant of a 30 percent disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to in-service noise exposure and that there was no aggravation of a pre-existing disability.

The Veteran's bradycardia is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing ischemic heart disease or herbicide exposure.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted as the lay and medical evidence are at least in equipoise regarding its relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and a back disability were denied as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD was also denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for extraschedular consideration due to unemployability prior to February 4, 2019. His left ankle degenerative joint disease rating is also remanded for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss. The examiner is requested to address whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s right ear hearing loss is related to his military service, including any right ear tympanic membrane injury or noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, which is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, hypertension, sleep apnea, and pes planus are being remanded due to incomplete service records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD are all denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is considered abandoned due to his failure to submit the requested VA Form 21-8940.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and opinions regarding his PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, and back condition. The claims are not about service connection via a presumption like PACT Act/Agent Orange/Camp Lejeune.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not support a link between current hearing impairment and military service, with the weight of medical opinion favoring post-service noise exposure and natural aging as causes.

The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and granted. The claim for a non-compensable rating for a bilateral eye disability is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, and cervical spine disorder due to a lack of VA treatment records from after service discharge. The Veteran testified that his symptoms began shortly after service discharge.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for right hip condition, left hip condition, left knee condition, and right ear hearing loss. The claim for a rating higher than 20 percent for chronic low back strain was also denied.