Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, right ear hearing loss, sleep apnea, and tinnitus have been granted. The case is remanded for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran has current right ear hearing loss for VA purposes and whether it is due to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service acoustic trauma. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The left ear hearing loss is being remanded as there are no audiometric results meeting VA criteria and the Veteran testified that his hearing has worsened in both ears.

The Veteran's TBI with post-traumatic headaches is rated at 40 percent from July 29, 2010 to the present. The effective date for service connection of PTSD and left ear hearing loss remains June 11, 2015.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, indicating satisfaction with the decision and wishing to withdraw all remaining issues.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher evaluation based on VA's tables for rating hearing loss disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right ear hearing loss, finding that it began during his active service and is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are consistent with his MOS as a truck driver and treatment records. The decision affords the Veteran the benefit of doubt.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that these conditions began in-service due to noise exposure.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with all of the March 2020 remand directives and thus an additional remand is necessary to ensure compliance.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been manifested by hearing acuity of no worse than Level I in both ears, resulting in a 0 percent disability rating under Diagnostic Code 6100. The Board denied the claim for a compensable rating as the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's hearing loss has significantly worsened since April 2012, warranting a 100% rating from that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD have been denied. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to be related to service, as there is no evidence of chronic symptoms during or immediately after service. The Board finds that the current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are less likely caused by in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's degenerative changes of the right shoulder had onset in service and has been continuously present since then.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his bilateral hearing loss and neuropathy, upper and lower extremities. The Board finds that additional evidence is needed to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, right and left knee disabilities, hypertension, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and shrapnel wound scarring of the lumbar spine are being remanded due to incomplete or insufficient medical opinions. The VA will obtain additional examinations and opinions as needed.

The Veteran's death by suicide is being remanded for further review due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the cause of his death, including consideration of service-connected and non-service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted as service connected.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Board has found that the Veteran's left and right lower extremity sciatica are not related to his service-connected low back disability, and thus these issues are remanded for further development.