Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence did not show a relationship to in-service noise exposure.

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 service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure, granting his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is considered to be related to service, as evidenced by the presence of high frequency hearing loss at enlistment and current sensorineural hearing loss. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the current hearing loss disability is due to service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 11, 2020, for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board found that the appropriate effective date is June 11, 2020, as this was more than one year after the April 2014 rating decision denying service connection.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection is granted for a lumbar spine disability.,Service connection is granted for posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol abuse disorder.,The claim for service connection for right facial Bell's Palsy is remanded.,The claim for service connection for cervical spine disability is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support the Veteran's claims of in-service onset or causation.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted as due to herbicide exposure. The low back disability remains at a 40% rating, with no change in the rating for neuropathy or erectile dysfunction. Right ear hearing loss and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD, a bilateral foot disability, a stomach disability, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and back and right knee disabilities due to new evidence submitted after the Veteran's hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied for a compensable evaluation prior to August 29, 2016 and an evaluation in excess of 20 percent thereafter.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the cases of cervical spine disability, seizure disability, and TDIU prior to August 15, 2012.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain information about the Veteran's service periods, specifically whether he was performing ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA at the time of his December 2006 Army Reserve examination for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his claimed disabilities, including left upper extremity, bilateral feet, bilateral hips, bilateral knees, bilateral lower extremities, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to new VA treatment records being added to the claim file. The AOJ needs to consider these records and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has determined that additional VA outpatient treatment records are needed and a new VA examination is required to determine the severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including whether it is at least as likely as not caused by in-service noise exposure or manifested during service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete and unreliable in-service audiometric evaluations.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is granted as service connected.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for nasopharyngeal carcinoma and left ear hearing loss have been granted, with the effective date being September 30, 2014.