Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The matter is now pending for further development and an addendum medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right elbow bursitis, bilateral hearing loss, and a right ankle condition due to inadequate examinations and consideration of all relevant evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's in-service exposure to hazardous noise is considered, but additional development is needed.

The Veteran does not have a current left ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and therefore her claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU from February 13, 2018. Additionally, his single service-connected disability rated at 100 percent (PTSD) combined with additional disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more qualify him for SMC under specific VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service, specifically noise exposure during his infantry MOS.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is seeking service connection for this condition, which they believe was aggravated by military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient audiometric test results for rating purposes. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after a VA audiological examination is conducted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss for VA purposes, and therefore service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have prevented him from securing or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation throughout the claim period, warranting a TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss did not begin during service and is not related to in-service noise exposure.,The Board also denied service connection for Meniere’s disease, noting conflicting statements about when the Veteran noticed her symptoms and finding her lay opinion on this issue unconvincing.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to noise exposure during military service. The Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not shown by competent medical evidence to be related to his active duty.,Service connection for PTSD is denied as there is no diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 60 percent for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to November 17, 2020 is denied as the evidence does not support such a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer and bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of exposure to herbicides, including Agent Orange, which is required for presumptive service connection under VA law. The Veteran’s current prostate cancer was determined unrelated to his military service, and his current bilateral hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability during or proximate to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need to obtain additional information from the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II (DM) was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating as regulation of activities is not required to manage DM. For TDIU prior to February 12, 2013, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were deemed insufficient to render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran experienced acoustic trauma during service and continues to have symptoms of these conditions.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection is granted for low back disability. The Veteran reported experiencing pain during service and has continued since then.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was found to be at Level II, which corresponds to a noncompensable rating. The Board denied an initial compensable rating for the service-connected bilateral hearing loss.