Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has denied service connection for right hand disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability. Service connection was granted for left ear hearing loss and the Veteran is entitled to a compensable evaluation for chronic rhinitis.,Service connection was established for left ear hearing loss based on noise exposure during military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 70 percent effective July 20, 2016. A TDIU was granted from October 24, 2013 to May 8, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,Service connection matters related to bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, neck disorder, lower back disorder, knee disorder, left hip disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and tremors are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded due to the lack of a scanned audiogram and the need for a contemporaneous VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not have these conditions during or within one year after his military service. The evidence does not support a claim of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, major depressive disorder (MDD), and migraine headaches. The claims were reopened based on new evidence submitted since the previous denials.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to missing documents from his claims file, including his service treatment records. An addendum opinion is needed from an audiologist to address the Veteran's in-service noise exposure.

The Board has divided the case into two separate issues: right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss. The decision denies service connection for right ear hearing loss, while remanding the issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure. The issues of service connection for toe fungus have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate nexus opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The VA needs to obtain an addendum opinion from a different audiologist that considers delayed-onset hearing loss and other potential causes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains at a 10% rating throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for increased disability ratings and TDIU on an extraschedular basis is being remanded due to incomplete development. The case will be further developed to determine the appropriate rating for his service-connected conditions, including hearing loss and left leg post-phlebitic syndrome.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to service and grants service connection for it. However, the Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis prior to November 8, 2016 is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he does not meet the criteria for a VA hearing loss disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, thus granting a TDIU effective January 28, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss did not worsen during his periods of active duty.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and ingrown toenail, right great toe. The issues of TMJ disability and TDIU have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure, as well as his TDIU claim. The VA is required to provide an addendum opinion from appropriate experts regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a disagreement with the decision regarding entitlement to TDIU. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU, but the Board must consider whether they render him unemployable.