Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder, IBS, Hemorrhoids, Right Thumb Scar, Right Ear Hearing Loss, and Tinnitus, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to January 15, 2020. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for this period.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis, left hip disability, right hip disability, left shoulder disability, and back disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The examiner did not consider ASA-ISO unit conversion when discussing in-service threshold shift.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate for the period from December 22, 2014 to October 21, 2019 due to service-connected PTSD. Chapter 35 DEA benefits are also granted during this time.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss, effective August 1, 2020, as there was insufficient evidence of sustained improvement in his hearing acuity.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss has been rated at Level I throughout the appeal period.,The claims for service connection of neck condition and HTN are being remanded due to new evidence having been received.,Service connection is being granted for Type II diabetes mellitus (DM2) as secondary to HTN.,HTN is being remanded due to insufficient rationale provided by the examiner.,Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is being remanded due to insufficient rationale provided by the examiner.,The Veteran's left ear hearing loss claim is being remanded for further review of the audiometry records in his service treatment records.,Service connection for neck condition is being remanded as there was no consideration of the Veteran's lay report.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70% disability rating, effective January 29, 2019. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also granted. The effective date for the increased PTSD rating remains January 29, 2019.

The Veteran's PTSD is not productive of occupational and social impairment warranting a higher rating.,The Veteran has no worse than Level I hearing loss in each ear, which does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.,Service connection for pain in the left foot with swelling, numbness, tingling toes, and frost bite is denied as there is no evidence of such disability related to service exposure or cold injury.,Service connection for pain in the right hand with numbness and tingling is denied as there is no evidence of such disability related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, thus denying his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as of September 12, 2018 due to his service-connected disabilities meeting the schedular criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as of September 12, 2018 due to his service-connected disabilities meeting the schedular criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as of September 12, 2018 due to his service-connected disabilities meeting the schedular criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been denied.,The Veteran's appeal for an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has also been denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as of September 12, 2018 due to his service-connected disabilities meeting the schedular criteria for a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability during the appellate period.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The examiner is asked to provide a more definitive opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that chronic bilateral hearing loss had its onset in or was otherwise related to active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the issues of initial increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a back disorder, a bilateral foot disorder (other than hallux valgus), and a TBI.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and cataracts, conjunctivitis, and glaucoma (to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus) have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.