Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial, but the issue is remanded for further development and an addendum opinion regarding whether the hearing loss is related to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and headaches as the evidence did not show a link between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's nasal fracture and hypertension are not service-connected, but a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran has been granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected nasal fracture. The Board found that the residuals of the nasal fracture do not warrant a higher than 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and ischemic heart disease due to Agent Orange exposure are denied. The claim for an initial compensable disability rating for residuals of prostate cancer is granted. The claim for service connection for three aneurysms is remanded.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for a spleen disability. Service connection was granted for sarcoidosis, hypertension, depressive disorder, pituitary gland tumor, diabetes insipidus, fatigue disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU. Prior to January 23, 2012, the Veteran was granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated and found to not warrant a compensable rating, as his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for any higher level of disability.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of entitlement to revision of a February 1, 1980 rating decision that denied service connection for hearing loss and ringing in ears on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) because these issues are not ripe for appellate review at this time.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of a medical nexus between his current conditions and military service.,The Board found that there was no evidence showing a diagnosis or treatment for these conditions during service, and the Veteran did not report them until after separation.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for a new VA examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for lung disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, dental disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The Veteran's lung disorder was not related to service or asbestos exposure. His bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to have started within one year of separation from service. Service connection was also denied for his dental condition due to lack of evidence of a compensable disability. Finally, the Board found that service connection could not be granted for PTSD as it is presumed related to active duty.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, but his service connection claim for chronic allergic rhinitis (claimed as sinus condition) was granted.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating determinations related to various conditions, including left ear hearing loss disability, prostate cancer, an acquired psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease (DDD)/degenerative disc disease (DDD), and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The decision is due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and otosclerosis, as secondary to his service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis, inactive. The claims are now pending before the RO.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Bilateral hearing loss is found to have been aggravated by noise exposure during active service, while tinnitus is presumed to have begun as the result of acoustic trauma during active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been rated, with the hearing loss receiving a 10% rating prior to November 22, 2019 and a 20% rating thereafter. The PTSD has received a 30% rating prior to December 2, 2019 and a 50% rating from that date.

The Board has dismissed the issue of entitlement to an extraschedular rating for left ear hearing loss as moot due to the Veteran's receipt of a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) during the entire period on appeal. The issue of service connection for residuals of a stroke is remanded for further development.

The petition to reopen claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss is granted. The petition to reopen a claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability is denied, and the case is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right ear hearing loss disability, left ear hearing loss disability, low back injury, and hypertension due to exposure to tactical herbicide agents and as secondary to PTSD.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability is denied because there is no evidence of a current disability.