Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has decided that further clarification is needed before a decision can be made on the merits of the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between his in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss. The Board also found no aggravation beyond its natural course during active duty or secondary to any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records, which may contain relevant medical information.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of evidence addressing the relationship between hearing loss and tinnitus, which was previously granted service connection for.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for low back disability, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The appeal for a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities is dismissed. The appeals for initial compensable evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and pleural plaques (claimed as asbestosis) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's statements regarding in-service noise exposure and a continuity of symptoms since service, as well as the need for an addendum opinion on delayed onset hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for kidney disease/kidney cancer with metastasis, residuals of loss of a kidney, and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his current hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with a numeric designation of Level I in each ear. The Board denied the claim for a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but these issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a sleep disorder, claimed as insomnia. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or current disability.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss. A VA examination is needed to determine if she currently has a diagnosis of hearing loss and its likely etiology.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess its current severity.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted a 20% rating from May 17, 2018. The claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea to include as secondary to service-connected disability is remanded.

The Board denied an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's Schedule of Ratings.

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased ratings of acne keloidal of the right ear and posterior neck, and bilateral hearing loss due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating prior to December 10, 2020 and a rating greater than 20 percent from December 10, 2020 for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not support these ratings.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of hearing loss and TBI residuals has been dismissed due to his death prior to a final decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for heart disorder, hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran is requested to provide names and addresses of all medical care providers who have recently treated him for his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA audiogram and scheduling the Veteran for an examination to assess his current disability level.