Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss is not related to military noise exposure and that there was no significant threshold shift in his hearing during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to inadequate development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and his service. The claim will be reviewed again with a new examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for periodic limb movement disorder of the right and left lower extremities were denied. The Board found that the disability is primarily manifest by sensory disturbance and pain, most analogous to mild incomplete paralysis.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating prior to February 8, 2018 and a rating in excess of 10 percent from February 8, 2018 for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show an exceptional pattern of hearing impairment or other factors warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, a bilateral eye disorder, missing toes of the right foot, and a quarter of the left leg amputated. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The case is being submitted to the Director of VA’s Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 15, 2010.

The Board has determined that the VA audiologist's opinions were inadequate and remands the case for a new opinion to address whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to military noise exposure, caused by his service-connected tinnitus, or aggravated by it.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective February 7, 2016 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from engaging in any form of substantially gainful employment that was consistent with his education and occupational experience from December 28, 2012 to October 9, 2014.

The Board has decided that service connection for tinnitus is granted, but the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not rated higher than noncompensable, and the Board denied entitlement to a TDIU due to lack of evidence showing he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable (zero percent) due to the presence of Level II hearing acuity in both ears, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea due to outstanding VA treatment records and incomplete opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected. The effective date for TDIU is set at February 7, 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms are rated at 50%, and his tinnitus is rated at 10%. Bilateral hearing loss remains unresolved. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for clarification of employment status.

The Board has found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating. The claim for service connection of his bilateral eye disability is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to apply relevant medical opinions. The Veteran's hearing loss needs further clarification.