Hearing loss decisions — 2021

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, chronic lumbar strain, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment since February 22, 2019. His TDIU is granted effective that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied as he does not have current hearing loss disability recognized by VA.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of a private audiological examination report and the Veteran's lay testimony regarding onset of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (BHL) four years after separation from service. The VA is instructed to obtain any outstanding records, arrange for an addendum with an appropriate VA audiologist, and consider all evidence in deciding whether BHL was incurred in or caused by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss, including a lack of recent audiograms and conflicting opinions from the VA examiner.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected due to exposure to acoustic trauma during service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding its relationship to service.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for tinnitus was also granted. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is remanded as well, with a need for an addendum opinion addressing whether it is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development regarding his claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and eye disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and secondary service connection for his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the conditions are related to active duty service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, specifically generalized anxiety disorder, is granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The rating for the bilateral hearing loss remains at 40 percent since December 17, 2019.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection, as is his PTSD with an initial rating of 50 percent. The low back disability issue has been remanded.

The Veteran's initial service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted in December 2016, but the RO did not assign a compensable rating. The case is being remanded to schedule the Veteran for a VA audiological examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is not properly adjudicated based on the current evidence and a remand is required to provide an adequate examination.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection due to in-service acoustic trauma. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is remanded as the current opinion is inadequate.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability and bilateral hearing loss have worsened since the last VA examinations, and he is being asked to provide additional medical records. He will be scheduled for a new examination to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for right shoulder disability, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, GERD, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired mental disorder was denied in October 2007, but reopened and denied again in September 2002. The decision is final with respect to these claims.,The Veteran's hearing loss claim has been remanded due to the lack of audiometric findings meeting VA criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is due to acoustic trauma sustained in service and grants service connection for this condition.