Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than specific phobia was denied. The reduction from a 100 percent to a 20 percent rating for his left shoulder disability, status post arthroscopic surgery, effective February 1, 2016, was upheld. His claims for higher ratings for the left shoulder and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis were denied. His claim for right lower extremity radiculopathy was also denied. The Veteran's specific phobia, bilateral hearing loss, cholecystectomy residuals, cholecystectomy scars, and right knee scars all received initial compensable ratings. Finally, his TDIU claim was denied.

The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability prior to November 17, 2019. The Board has remanded the issue due to missing audiogram results from April 20, 2017.

The Board has denied service connection for a left knee disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 50 percent effective November 25, 2020.

The Board has decided that the claim for service connection for hearing loss, as secondary to service-connected tinnitus, needs further development and is therefore remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected. The Board found the evidence in equipoise, favoring the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to lack of evidence linking his current disabilities to military service, including herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran was found not to meet the criteria for TDIU as he had multiple service-connected disabilities rated at 90% combined.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a chronic throat disability have been dismissed due to the Veteran's request to withdraw his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received since the September 2019 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection was established based on the Veteran's history of elevated glucose levels during service, which is considered indicative of diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to have had their onset in service.,There is no evidence of a current gout disability or functional impairment due to gout.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient explanations in previous opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantial gainful employment since August 1, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasoning in the previous VA examination regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hearing loss and his service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been denied as there is no evidence of current disability or in-service incurrence.,Service connection for tinnitus was also denied due to lack of in-service incurrence, and the Board found that any symptoms are less likely related to military noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and a TDIU. The Veteran's current ratings for bilateral hearing loss are also being reviewed.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension. The decision on bilateral hearing loss is that it is not related to service, while hypertension remains under review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current TBI, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus that is related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a TDIU are remanded due to the need for updated examinations, authorization of medical records, and consideration of all relevant evidence.