Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a bilateral eye or vision disability have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating. The Veteran also seeks TDIU due to service-connected disabilities prior to February 1, 2019.,The Veteran was previously granted TDIU from August 28, 2013, to February 1, 2019, based on his service-connected disabilities rendering him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has remanded the issue of whether he is still unemployable due to these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for dizziness, sinus disorder, respiratory disorder, hypertension, and right ear hearing loss. The decision also noted that the Veteran's migraines were rated as 70% prior to July 13, 2016, and 30% since then.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection.,Service connection has also been granted for degenerative arthritis of the left knee with total knee replacement, right knee with total knee replacement, and lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The claim must be remanded to obtain an adequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability due to new evidence received since the last final decision. The Veteran's duty status during his periods of active duty, inactive duty training, and reserve service must be verified, as well as the significance of a 1991 audiogram.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further evaluation due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is remanded due to the lack of adequate information regarding his current state of service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus and heart disease are granted service connection, while bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability are denied. Hyperlipidemia is not considered a disability for VA purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service, despite a lack of significant threshold shifts in audiometric testing. The decision is remanded for further development and an adequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected as it is related to noise exposure during service.,His other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is also service-connected, linked to in-service anxiety and harassment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 30 percent prior to May 4, 2017 and 50 percent from that date. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for left thigh disability and bilateral hearing loss, as well as the issue of TDIU due to non-compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran needs a new VA examination for his left thigh disability and a new VA examination for his bilateral hearing loss disability. Additionally, the Veteran must complete a VA Form 21-8940 and provide information from his last employer.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is due to in-service hazardous noise exposure and resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss in the left ear and tinnitus do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, including the reduction of the disability rating.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to have begun during service and has continued since then, warranting service connection.,A VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's depressive disorder.,A VA examination is needed to assess the current level of severity of any diagnosed bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus disability.,The etiology of the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and its relationship to his lumbar spine disability need to be determined through a VA examination.,The etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and its relationship to his lumbar spine disability needs to be determined through a VA examination.,A VA examination is needed to determine whether the Veteran's bilateral foot disability is related to service, with consideration given to weight gain as an intermediary factor.,An appropriate VA examination is required to assess the etiology of the Veteran's right elbow disability and its relationship to his lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues related to his foot disability, tinnitus, DM, and associated conditions have been withdrawn. The claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted due to continuous symptoms since service.