Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been remanded. The claim for a higher rating for other specified depressive disorder has been granted, but the effective date is not provided.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a skin disorder, and a psychiatric disorder. The evidence does not support the Veteran's claims that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, as his hearing acuity is only at Level I in both ears.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee degenerative joint disease, and TDIU due to inadequate medical opinions and missing records. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board dismissed all appeals due to the Veteran's death, as it has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims at this time.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his combined rating did not meet the schedular requirements and that he was not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including degenerative joint disease of the right knee, hallux valgus or bunions on both feet, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension. The evidence did not support a finding that these disabilities were related to service.

The Veteran's TDIU is denied as his date of entitlement to a schedular TDIU is March 31, 2018. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the economic component of a TDIU prior to March 30, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other disabilities have been rated as 100% disabling, qualifying him for special monthly compensation at the rate specified in 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s). The claim is dismissed because the criteria are met.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since September 12, 2014. He is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened and will be considered on the merits. The Board is unable to make a fully-informed decision without additional medical evidence regarding whether his current psychiatric condition is related to service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as there is no current disability in either ear, and any pre-existing left ear hearing loss did not worsen during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted a 70 percent rating from September 10, 2019 to October 7, 2019. The appeal is denied for all other periods.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss from August 29, 2014 to June 17, 2019. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is denied as service-connected, and the left ear hearing loss prior to August 29, 2014 does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a right shoulder disorder were denied. The Board found no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to the current conditions, and did not find any new evidence that would reopen his claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right knee disability was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a), but referred the case to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of an extra-schedular rating due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions in previous determinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic nephropathy, squamous cell carcinoma residuals, post-radiation dermatitis associated with squamous cell carcinoma residuals, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and hearing loss, made him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since August 31, 2008. The effective date for TDIU is set at September 3, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or a nexus to service, including noise exposure. The Veteran's current conditions were not shown during service or within one year post-service, and the VA examiner found no link between his current symptoms and military service.