Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board dismissed the appeal of service connection for bilateral pes planus. Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable for the period prior to January 9, 2020. The Board found that he maintained employment through at least early 2020 and his contentions were outweighed by the opinions of VA examiners.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his service-connected hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied as he did not meet the schedular requirements and there is no evidence of unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following gainful employment prior to October 2, 2012. Therefore, the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient evidence and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic symptoms within one year after discharge. The Board also found that any current hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to service.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to October 3, 2015 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim and thus did not warrant reopening.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and the identification of outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, and his claim for increased evaluation is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that his current condition is related to in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and malignant melanoma are remanded for further development and medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, specifically obtaining a new VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left ear hearing loss. The Veteran is seeking service connection for both right and left ear hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss. The AOJ needs to obtain a new opinion from a clinician that considers the Veteran’s lay history, including employment and noise exposure, and assesses whether his right ear hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and denied service connection for a back disorder and spinal hemangioma. The hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, while the back disorder and spinal hemangioma are not considered to be related to service.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left below-the-knee amputation. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed due to his failure to report for VA examinations, and the need for further medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical examinations and a need for clarification on whether certain tests were used. The Veteran's hearing loss disability is being evaluated again.

The Board denied service connection for an ear disorder/disease and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link to service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was also denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current condition is related to noise exposure during service and not due to his treatment for mesothelioma.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression, bilateral shoulder and hearing loss, and migraine headaches, prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since April 28, 2006. The effective date for the TDIU rating is set at this date.