Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions began during service due to noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, hepatitis C, and left ear hearing loss disability. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the right ear hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and vocational experience, leading to a TDIU effective August 31, 2018.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted. The hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disability (including dementia and PTSD), diabetes, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and liver disability claims are all remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed substantially or materially to his death and if they caused or aggravated his diabetes. The case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability due to lack of valid testing results.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus disability, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hearing loss is aggravated by his tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Board also remanded the issues regarding his right and left knee disabilities due to new evidence and changes in rating criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to exposure to loud noise during his military service.

The Board granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service hazardous noise exposure, but denied his claim for tinnitus.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals concerning the issues of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, hand disability, and foot disability due to incomplete development and lack of a clear opinion regarding etiology.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus on a presumptive basis due to noise exposure in service. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, as well as his dry eyes and skin disability (claimed as eczema) are remanded for further development. Hearing loss is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as evidenced by normal audiograms at separation from active duty.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and increased ratings for his lumbosacral spine disability. The Board has determined that remand is necessary to obtain updated VA examinations due to the passage of time since his last evaluations, which do not comply with current regulations.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis during the period from December 5, 2016, to April 30, 2017, is being referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration. The Board will not have jurisdiction to adjudicate this claim until it is so referred and considered.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the functional impairment of the Veteran's reported intermittent headaches, nausea, and vertigo, including their relationship to his bilateral hearing loss.