Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right foot disability and right ear hearing loss due to new evidence submitted since the last denial. The right ear hearing loss claim is granted, but the right foot disability claim remains pending as it requires further examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling after January 15, 2019. The Board finds that an increased rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has denied the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of an initial compensable disability rating for dermatitis.

Service connection for PTSD has been granted.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss rating has been restored to a 60 percent rating, effective April 1, 2017. The issue of TDIU is being remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that it is due to noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an earlier effective date for a 50 percent rating for pansinusitis have been dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 27, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to December 5, 2018 due to his service-connected PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and tinnitus due to new and material evidence. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records from the Veteran's Army National Guard service, which may be relevant to his claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric evaluations did not show any higher than a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for bladder condition and hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are being remanded due to a lack of recent medical examinations and updated VA records. The Board also finds that these conditions may be related to his in-service exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claim for higher disability ratings for his bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his hearing was more severe than currently rated during each period at issue.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA medical examination and reliance on it in denying service connection for hearing loss. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed with a new examination.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted as secondary to his service-connected T12 compression fracture. The Veteran's left mandible fracture, chin and neck scar, status post T12 compression fracture, left sciatic nerve paralysis, right index finger shrapnel injury, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, bilateral toenail fungus, and bilateral hearing loss are all denied or granted with specific ratings.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an examination to determine if the Veteran's vertigo is related to service, including any in-service noise exposure or acoustic trauma. The hearing loss case remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service acoustic trauma. The decision is based on direct service connection.

The Board found no current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes and denied the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but the claims for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss are remanded for further evaluation.