Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns with the August 2021 VA opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The case will be reviewed again by a new VA examiner to address whether the Veteran had preexisting hearing loss prior to service, if his hearing loss is clearly and unmistakably not aggravated during service, and to determine if there is at least a 50% probability that his hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives and evidence indicating possible unemployment related to service-connected disabilities. The case is now remanded for further development, including an examination to assess the impact of the Veteran's service-connected conditions on his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to August 27, 2015 was denied as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation under VA's rating schedule.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as it did not find that the Veteran's current condition was caused by in-service noise exposure, and there is no evidence of a compensable degree of hearing loss within one year of separation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating throughout the entire appeal period, as his audiometric findings did not meet the criteria for any level of disability under VA's rating schedule.

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

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The case of service connection for a left knee disability is remanded.

The Veteran's daughter, D.H., was found to be permanently incapable of self-support prior to her 18th birthday due to various disabilities including ADHD, ODD, mood disorder, lupus, and hearing loss. The Board granted the claim for recognition as a helpless child.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the conditions are at least as likely as not related to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that his pre-existing hearing loss did not undergo a permanent positive threshold shift during service and was not aggravated by in-service noise exposure.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss was previously denied in 2002. A new claim was submitted in 2019, but it was not filed on the proper form and thus cannot be considered.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left carpal tunnel, bilateral leg disability, bilateral wrist disability, headaches, insomnia disorder, and bilateral knee disability have been remanded by the Board.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2010, for the award of service connection for right and left carpal tunnel has been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not incurred during his active duty service, based on noise exposure. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD from February 26, 2008 onward is rated at a 70 percent disability rating.,PTSD was previously rated as 30 percent prior to February 26, 2008 and has now been increased to 70 percent.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss, chronic sinusitis, and hyposmia have been granted service connection. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss as there is no evidence of a chronic disease noted in service or within a presumptive period, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a nexus between current hearing loss and military noise exposure or ear infections.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence received after the last prior adjudication, and a contemporaneous examination was obtained. The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed because the Veteran withdrew the appeal prior to any decision being made.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected left ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining VA audiology records and scheduling a VA examination.