Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are due to his in-service noise exposure, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during service and are related to his duties as an aviation structural mechanic.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and has remanded his claim for service connection for loss of smell due to potential exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence to support a nexus between the conditions and service.,For his degenerative joint disease, right ankle, the Veteran's current rating of 10 percent is maintained.

The Veteran's hearing loss is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine if it is related to his service, despite having normal hearing at entrance and separation. The Board notes that the Veteran had exposure to hazardous noise during combat as an infantryman.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining service treatment records and medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of service connection for congestive heart failure with implanted AICD, colon condition, thyroid goiter post-excision, and tracheal lesion post-excision are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not support a rating greater than 10 percent.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an eye disorder, bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disorder, skin disorder, and anxiety disorder have all been denied. The Board found that there was no current disability for any of these conditions, or a link to service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for vertigo (claimed as dizzy spells) was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disability or a causal relationship to service, particularly given the Veteran's consistent denial of dizziness during his active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, which is related to noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board found the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right ankle disability issues were remanded for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied the claim itself due to a lack of evidence showing that the condition was incurred or aggravated by active duty.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination and additional evidentiary development regarding his bilateral hearing loss disability. The right and left knee disabilities have already been granted service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted a 10% rating, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted a 50% rating, effective April 30, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as he does not meet the schedular criteria for assignment of a TDIU. The Board referred the case to the Director, Compensation Service, for extra-schedular consideration.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected due to in-service noise exposure, with the presumption of continuity since separation.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, but his bilateral hearing loss and respiratory conditions are denied. The cases for rheumatic fever, arthritis condition, and heart condition secondary to rheumatic fever are remanded.