Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that he does not have sufficient hearing loss in his left ear to be considered a ratable disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 25, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II with hypertension, bilateral upper and lower diabetic peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, meet the schedular criteria for entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for hearing loss is dismissed as a freestanding claim.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for adjustment disorder with depression, left upper extremity weakness, and right upper extremity weakness are denied because the earliest effective dates have already been assigned.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring further development including a new VA examination for an ENT specialist.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 30 percent, which is also the maximum rating available under VA regulations.,Service connection for pain in the left foot with swelling, numbness, tingling toes, and frost bite is denied.,Service connection for pain in the right hand with numbness and tingling is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including other trauma and stressor related disorder, lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome, degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, tinnitus, bilateral pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, dermatitis of the neck, and erectile dysfunction, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since September 17, 2016. The Veteran's combined service-connected rating was 80 percent at that time. Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 is established as of September 17, 2016.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, DM II, right-hand injury, skin disease, HTN, bilateral eye disability, and peripheral neuropathy, bilateral lower extremity are all found to be related to service. The claims for ED, peripheral neuropathy, bilateral upper extremity, and left-hand injury were not reopened due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and Meniere's disease with tinnitus, vertigo were granted effective as of December 20, 2011. A 100% rating was assigned for the entire appeal period from December 20, 2011 to May 3, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and prostate cancer are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding opinions on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was caused by his service-connected disabilities. The case is now remanded for additional medical opinions.

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 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 Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. The cases of respiratory condition, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and residuals stab wound, left forearm are all remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss with patulous eustachian tube is related to her in-service radiation therapy and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete service treatment records. The VA must conduct additional searches for these records and provide a response in writing if they are found to be unavailable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and there is no reasonable possibility that the Veteran is unemployable by reason of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,A maximum 50 percent rating for migraine headaches prior to November 26, 2019 is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is presumed to have been incurred in service. Service connection was denied for low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral shoulder disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or the presumption provisions. Memory loss was not found to be related to service.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an additional medical opinion regarding the Veteran's preexisting right ear hearing loss and whether in-service noise exposure resulted in damage to auditory hair cells, as well as any increase in severity during service.