Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was incurred during service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for mouth abscess due to outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss are denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for service connection for thoracic back disability and right ankle disability have been remanded due to new evidence received since the April 2019 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from substantially gainful employment, and the Board denied his claim for a TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active service.

The Board granted a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss from 10% to 30%, effective December 22, 2020. The appellant is not eligible for attorney fees in this case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work history.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right foot plantar fascitis, left foot plantar fascitis, sciatica, rhinitis, sinusitis, and headaches as the evidence does not support a current disability.,The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to failure to notify the Veteran of his scheduled VA audiological examinations, and because there is no evidence confirming that he was notified of these exams.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as secondary to medication for his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to hazardous noise during service, but his MOS had a low probability of such exposure. Additional private records are needed from Dr. R.V.T., and an addendum opinion must be provided.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and will obtain an opinion on whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided is inadequate for rating purposes and requires an addendum opinion to address the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral hearing loss in conjunction with his conceded in-service noise exposure resulting from the performance of his duties on board a military aircraft.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service. The VA examiner needs to provide a new opinion on this issue.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there is no evidence to support or suggest that any of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or contributed to his death in any way.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and left foot disability have been denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, while the left foot disability is rated at 10 percent.