Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to TDIU, and referred it for extraschedular consideration as to entitlement to TDIU benefits.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's current disability of tinnitus is considered established, and the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether it is related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a VA examination and further development, as the August 2011 rating decision is final. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss will be reopened due to new evidence provided in December 2016.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, COPD, bilateral hearing loss, and degenerative arthritis of multiple joints. The Veteran's claims are not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of PTSD prior to June 20, 2019 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not demonstrate total occupational and social impairment due to PTSD.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied as there was no evidence showing in-service noise exposure or a current disability.

The Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits was denied as he does not have an employment handicap and is therefore not in need of rehabilitation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, which is conceded to be related to noise exposure during service. The examiner must consider the Veteran's in-service reports of hearing loss and placement on no-noise hazardous duty.

The Veteran's asthma and functional dyspepsia have been granted presumptive service connection. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the other issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that it did not manifest in service or within one year of separation from active duty and is not otherwise related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further consideration due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The examiner is asked to consider the Veteran's lay statements and medical research in determining whether his hearing loss is related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right ankle conditions, as well as bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure. Service connection was denied for residuals of left hand injury due to lack of evidence linking current condition to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and hearing loss, do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records. The issues include bilateral foot disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus (secondary to hearing loss), and bilateral ankle disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss disabilities prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment prior to February 7, 2017. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in the duty to assist and insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral artery disease as due to service-connected disabilities, right bundle branch block as due to service-connected disabilities, and right ear hearing loss. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible statements regarding in-service noise exposure and his current diagnosis of hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence did not support a nexus to active service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as both conditions are rated based on their severity under the applicable VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as both conditions are rated based on their severity under the applicable VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities.