Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's hearing acuity was found to be at levels II in the right ear and I in the left ear, which do not warrant a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and lumbar spine disorder for additional development to consider all relevant evidence, including the Veteran's lay statements and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to failure to attend VA examinations. The RO is instructed to schedule new VA examinations and obtain any outstanding treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's service records do not show any evidence of hearing loss in either ear during service or within one year post-service, and his current hearing loss is not shown to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinions provided in previous examinations.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss from July 28, 2014. The heart disorder claim was denied as the evidence does not reach equipoise in support of service connection.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to his service-connected mental health disorder. His bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied due to lack of in-service onset or continuity, and no nexus to service has been established.

The Board granted a 100% rating for bilateral hearing loss and SMC based on deafness in both ears effective August 28, 2020. The Veteran's prior claim was denied as his hearing loss did not warrant an increased rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is related to his military service, including exposure to noise.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and a new opinion regarding service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to various conditions, with some granted and others denied. The decision is mixed as it addresses both granted and denied claims.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a bilateral knee disability due to additional evidence obtained during the appeal process. The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is related to exposure to jet fuel as a weapons mechanic, while his knee disability may be linked to an injury sustained in National Guard service.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the RO granted a compensable rating of 10 percent effective April 13, 2017. The issue is now remanded.,For hemorrhoids, the Veteran seeks a compensable rating but his condition has been rated as noncompensable since October 10, 2007.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his service-connected hearing loss, and thus service connection for tinnitus has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be returned for further development and a new examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable prior to December 20, 2019 and at a 10% rating from that date onwards. The appeal for increased ratings is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has remanded several issues including those related to thyroid disability, hypertension, neck disability, back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral ankle disabilities, bilateral hamstring disabilities, ischemic heart disease (IHD), and sleep apnea. The case is also remanded for additional development regarding herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient reasoning in the original decision. The Veteran's service records do not show hearing loss or tinnitus at separation, but there is evidence of noise exposure during service and post-service employment history that may be relevant.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone did not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to May 7, 2015.