Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are likely due to noise exposure during active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, special home adaptation grant, individual unemployability, and aid and attendance/housebound benefits have been dismissed as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal. The service connection claims are also dismissed due to the death of both the Veteran and his surviving spouse.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss symptoms began during his active military service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of initial compensable ratings for PTSD/TBI and migraine headaches. The Veteran is to be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen her claim for bilateral hearing loss was granted, but the appeal to reopen her claim for bilateral pes planus is denied.,The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, COPD, OSA, and RLS, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and active duty service.

The claim for service connection has been reopened, but the issues of service connection for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left ear pain are still pending and need further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU since September 5, 2017. The Board granted this claim on that date.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a rating for posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a rating in excess of 20 percent for a low back disability, and an earlier effective date prior to January 28, 2015 for the grant of service connection for a low back disability due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea is granted as service connected. The Hearing Loss claim is remanded for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected mood disorder, lumbar spine, and hearing loss have prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment since at least November 22, 2002. An effective date of November 22, 2002 for a TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is considered a chronic disease under VA regulations and presumed to have been incurred in service due to continuous symptoms since separation.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 50 percent for service-connected headaches, and 10 percent for vertigo have all been denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 50 percent for sleep apnea have all been denied.,The effective dates for the grants of service connection for right lower extremity sciatic radulopathy, femoral radulopathy, and sleep apnea have all been denied.,The claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity sciatic radulopathy prior to May 27, 2021, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter has been remanded.,The claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity femoral nerve radulopathy has been remanded.,The Veteran's claims for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment have been remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that her current disability is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome is rated at 20 percent prior to May 23, 2016, and denied for a higher rating thereafter.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment prior to August 12, 2009.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 40 percent, and his TDIU claim for the period prior to May 26, 2021, is granted. The Veteran also receives SMC based on the statutory housebound rate.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected due to presumed noise exposure during military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service noise exposure. The decision is based on direct service connection as there was no evidence of a chronic disease during service or within the presumptive period.