Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has denied an initial rating greater than 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus and remanded the issue of entitlement to a compensable rating prior to November 19, 2019, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter for service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The claim is also remanded for development related to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The appeals for bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, and personality disorder have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims.,The appeals for increased ratings of right knee chondromalacia and right hand minimal motor and mild sensory loss have also been dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and an initial compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's cervical spine disability was granted a separate 20 percent rating prior to December 10, 2019.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection, while the claims for diabetes, heart disease, right lower extremity neurological disability, left lower extremity neurological disability, residuals of head injury, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions and insufficient evidence to link them to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and hypertension due to insufficient evidence in their favor. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to service.

The appeal of the issues regarding psychiatric disorder, low back disorder, and bilateral hearing loss is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's left ear hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Board has dismissed all the Veteran's claims as the appellant withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including an acquired mental disorder and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since July 13, 2017.

The Board has dismissed all appeals regarding service connection for various conditions as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, including exposure to acoustic trauma. As a result, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar disc disease with spinal stenosis, left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to May 31, 2017. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability for this period.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating for diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and fracture of the left wrist due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have sufficient hearing loss in either ear to be considered a ratable disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU have been withdrawn. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been granted, but the claim for heart murmur remains denied. The Board finds it necessary to recharacterize the issue of sleep apnea as a claim for insomnia due to military service. The Veteran's claims for vertigo/dizziness and sleep disorder are remanded for further examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss disability and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a qualified VA clinician regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus due to missing service treatment records and personnel records. The Veteran is required to provide information about his military occupational specialty (MOS) and any relevant medical treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Appellant's current right ear hearing loss may be related to his periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA), but an addendum opinion is needed to determine this. The issues of service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted.