Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development due to inadequate opinions in the original VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right and left shoulder strains, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and left knee arthritis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU from July 27, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is reasonably shown to have been incurred in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to readjudicate his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence is at least in equipoise that the current bilateral hearing loss is related to acoustic trauma exposure during service, and thus service connection is granted. Service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no competent and credible evidence of a current diagnosis or symptoms.

The Veteran was granted an effective date of July 20, 2016 for individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran was also granted an effective date of July 20, 2016 for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) eligibility based on his TDIU award.

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's exposure to noise during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's exposure to noise during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left lower extremity disabilities have resulted in permanent loss of use of both feet, qualifying him for financial assistance to purchase an automobile or adaptive equipment.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but the cases of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness/giddiness are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disorder, and skin disorder due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions had onset in active service or were otherwise causally connected.,There is no presumptive service connection available as the Veteran served fewer than 90 days.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for hearing loss and residuals of cancer of the larynx, finding that the evidence does not warrant such a rating. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the regulatory requirements.,Service connection for migraine headaches was denied due to lack of in-service disease or injury and failure to establish a causal relationship with service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for heart disability, diabetes mellitus, and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient development of medical opinions.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating prior to March 21, 2016 and an increased rating from March 21, 2016 for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show that his hearing loss had worsened to a level warranting a higher rating prior to March 21, 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of clarity in the examiner's opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss permanently worsened during service. The VA will obtain additional records and provide an addendum opinion from the examiner.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings have been dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he passed away during the appeal process.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not granted service connection due to lack of evidence showing permanent injury from service. Service connection for PTSD was granted, but the initial rating remains at 50 percent.,Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation claim is remanded as per the September 2019 Board remand.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) prior to September 14, 2015. The Veteran's service records show in-service exposure to noise but no definitive link between current conditions and service is established.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed. Service connection has been granted for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral pes planus, and plantar fasciitis.