Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's right ear hearing loss. The examiner did not provide a clear rationale for his conclusion and failed to consider the Veteran's statements of continuous and worsening right ear hearing loss since service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence submitted since the final decisions. The Veteran's service connection claims are being reviewed again as there is now sufficient evidence to reopen them.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and a shell fragment wound of the left leg with a fracture, have rendered him unable to work since July 2005. The Board has granted his claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis from July 1, 2005.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has worsened since his last VA audiological examination, and he needs a new evaluation to determine the current severity of his service-connected condition. The claim is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, finding that these conditions are etiologically related to the Veteran's military service due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that additional development is necessary before this matter can be adjudicated, including a new VA examination to assess the current extent and severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran does not have a current disability that meets VA's criteria for hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 90 percent, the maximum rating available under VA guidelines. The Board found that his hearing acuity does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD and dysthymic disorder) due to a lack of compliance with previous remand directives. The AOJ is instructed to schedule VA examinations and obtain outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus was set at July 5, 2017, based on the intent to file a claim that same day. The Veteran did not have any prior claims or communications regarding this condition before July 5, 2017.,The effective date for an increased rating for left foot hammer toes was denied as it could not be determined if there was an increase in severity of the condition within one year prior to July 5, 2017. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted on July 5, 2017.,The effective date for service connection for PTSD was set at July 5, 2017, based on the intent to file a claim that day. There were no prior claims or communications regarding this condition before July 5, 2017.,For tinnitus, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted as it is already at the maximum schedular rating.,For left foot hammer toes, an increased rating beyond 10 percent is not warranted as there was no evidence of worsening within one year prior to July 5, 2017. The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted on this date.,The initial rating for PTSD was set at the maximum schedular rating (70%) due to the severity and frequency of symptoms.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was initially rated at 10 percent prior to August 21, 2020. From that date, the Veteran is now rated at 100 percent for his bilateral hearing loss. The issue of balance issues related to his hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's initial non-compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his most recent audiometric results do not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.,The issue of entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disability is being remanded pending further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, including as due to exposure to herbicide agents. The decision also remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left wrist healed fracture radius (left wrist disability) has been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in audiometric test results and a need for updated medical records. The Veteran's hearing loss claim will be reconsidered with new evidence and an examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete medical opinions and lack of proper development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, and the Board dismissed them.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The Veteran contends his current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure, but the VA examiner relied on a 2005 Institute of Medicine report without addressing its contradictory findings.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issues of bilateral hearing loss and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB).