Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.,The Board also found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his hypertension.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as Level I in the right ear and Level III in the left ear, resulting in a zero percent disability rating.,There is no evidence of any current acquired psychiatric disorder or PTSD that can be linked to service.

The Board has denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Board denied service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and respiratory condition. Service connection was granted for obstructive sleep apnea.,Service connection was not established for the Veteran's claimed gastrointestinal disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or respiratory condition.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and noting that his hearing loss is not due to an in-service injury or exposure.

The Veteran's death was not caused by VA treatment, but rather due to his rectal cancer and bilateral hearing loss. The Board found that the cause of death was not related to service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss that manifested in service or within one year thereafter, and therefore, his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeals for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including schizophrenia and PTSD), and sleep apnea due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's heart condition and hypertension were not incurred in service, nor are they related to his military service.,Right ear SNHL was not incurred in service or due to exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's low back condition, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, type II, varicose veins, peripheral vascular disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities were also not related to his military service.

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

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for such a rating.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied prior to April 23, 2013. From that date until now, he has been granted a 10% disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to October 7, 2011 were denied as a matter of law due to the finality of the January 24, 2000 rating decision that initially denied service connection.

The Veteran's hearing acuity showed at most Level II impairment in the right ear and Level I impairment in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss disability, specifically for periods prior to July 27, 2017 and from July 27, 2017 to November 22, 2020. The AOJ is instructed to obtain VA treatment records and information about the qualifications of examiners who evaluated the Veteran during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum allowable, and service connection for CLL, residuals of myocardial infarction, bilateral hearing loss, OSA (now claimed as secondary to PTSD), and breathing problems (now claimed as COPD) are all denied.,A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed conditions, including his COPD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and new evidence submitted by the Veteran.