Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his military noise exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to a TDIU prior to April 29, 2011 due to conflicting ratings and requirements for total disability.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of right ear hearing loss as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision.

The Board has decided that further development is needed to obtain private treatment records for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as some of his VA treatment records have been scanned into VistA Imaging and are not currently available.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete development. The TDIU and DEA benefits claims are also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has dismissed the issue of service connection for myopia due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The remaining issues have been remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as 0 percent disabling, which is the lowest possible rating. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's hearing impairment did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate etiology opinion and a need for further development.

The Veteran's service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Veteran's prostate cancer prior to July 13, 2021, does not meet the criteria for a disability rating higher than 40 percent. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination by an ENT physician.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to provide a pre-decisional duty to assist, specifically regarding the impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his cause of death.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as service connected, with the Board finding it likely incurred in service due to noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected. The remaining issues of service connection for residuals of electrical shock to include TBI, tremor, and neuropathy have been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied left ear sensorineural hearing loss. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service acoustic trauma causing current hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new audiological evaluation of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as his claims have fluctuated over time and there are inconsistencies in previous audiometric results.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an earlier effective date for chronic kidney disease with hypertension have been dismissed due to the accredited representative withdrawing the appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability and no nexus to military service. The Veteran's STRs did not document any hearing issues during his active duty, and his separation examination showed normal hearing thresholds. A VA audiologist concluded that the Veteran's current hearing loss is less likely related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss with tinnitus and Meniere's disease is granted a disability rating of 60 percent, effective prior to June 13, 2020. The claim for TDIU is granted as of July 22, 2007. New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral ruptured eardrums.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence linking his current hearing loss to in-service noise exposure and concluding that it is more likely age-related.