Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate reasoning in the previous decision and a need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss was not aggravated in service.

The Veteran's claim for an extraschedular rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss based on the symptoms of vertigo and social isolation is denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for vertigo due to its secondary nature.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether it is related to active service. The Veteran's in-service exposure to significant acoustic trauma is presumed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder bursitis, left elbow medial epicondylitis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's hearing loss disability is also considered to be service-connected.,Service connection was established based on the evidence showing that the Veteran experienced symptoms of these conditions during his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete audiometric examination records and issues related to individual unemployability are inextricably intertwined with the hearing loss disability issue.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that his hearing impairment warranted a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU due to service-connected disability. The claim of service connection for lung cancer is denied.,The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active service, as determined by a VA audiological opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a link between his current hearing loss and his military service.

The appeal for an increased rating for left ear hearing loss and service connection for right ear hearing loss is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of April 30, 2014 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, back disorder, and psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran experienced hearing loss during combat service and his current bilateral hearing loss is due to service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable, with the highest assigned rating being Level III in both ears. The Board found that this level of impairment does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's preexisting hearing loss was aggravated by noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss due to exposure to loud noise during active service, and the Veteran's continuous symptoms since separation.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD and hearing loss is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's initial rating for coronary artery disease was granted at 60 percent, effective April 12, 2011. From March 30, 2016, the Veteran is also entitled to SMC due to having multiple service-connected disabilities rated at 60% or more.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and right hand disability have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since August 16, 2016.