Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination regarding the Veteran's right ear hearing loss. The examiner did not provide a clear rationale for their conclusion and based their opinion on inaccurate factual premises.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence showing a chronic disability during or immediately after service and no continuity of symptoms since service. The Board also found that the in-service otitis media did not cause current right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. For the period prior to October 12, 2020, his bilateral hearing loss was rated at 30 percent; from October 12, 2020, it was rated at 50 percent. From September 16, 2016 through January 24, 2019, the Veteran met the schedular requirements for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran claims his hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, but a VA examiner found no nexus between current hearing loss and service.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims and rating appeals due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of left knee disability, pulmonary disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral hand disability, and right knee disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is requested to provide any additional records related to his service treatment and post-service treatment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or other injury resulting in current hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 5, 2021 is granted. The claim for a higher rating from January 5, 2021 is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for PVD of the RLE and LLE are remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease with diabetes mellitus type II, PTSD, nephropathy with hypertension, and other conditions, require the aid and attendance of another person. The Board has granted special monthly compensation at the R-1 rate.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral shoulder, ankle, elbow, wrist, cervical spine, and hip disabilities. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.,Service connection was also denied for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and failure to provide a VA examination. The claim will be reconsidered after obtaining an adequate etiology opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure likely caused his current condition.

The Board has determined that a medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that a medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was submitted within a year of his separation from active duty training, and an effective date of October 1, 1969 is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA). The VA examinations conducted did not show pure-tone decibel losses of 55 or more at each specified frequency, nor 30 or less at 1000 Hertz and 70 or more at 2000 Hertz. Therefore, the Veteran's hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, thus his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is still manifested by hearing acuity of level VI in the right ear and level VIII in the left ear, with no improvement as of July 1, 2018. The rating for this condition has been restored to 40 percent effective July 1, 2018.