Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU due to inconsistencies in previous VA medical opinions regarding threshold shifts in service records, delayed onset hearing loss, and other relevant evidence. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with a new VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since March 31, 2014. The Board found that the available audiometric results do not support a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the Veteran is only entitled to a non-compensable rating prior to December 1, 2017 and from November 11, 2021 onward, but not in between.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural errors and additional evidence needs to be considered before a final decision can be made on the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss began during service and is due to in-service noise exposure, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, specifically exposure to non-ionizing radiation from radar work. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not combine to 70 percent or more, so he does not qualify for a TDIU under the percentage requirements. The Board finds that there is a reasonable possibility of unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities and remands the issue to the Director of Compensation Service for an opinion.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of death due to blunt force trauma to the head, finding that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's service-connected PTSD medications to his fall and subsequent death. The decision was based on VA medical opinions.

The Board previously denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran appealed, and the Court remanded the case to clarify findings from a 2016 VA examination and an addendum opinion of 2019. The appeal is now being remanded due to insufficient clarification.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is related to his active service and resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's lumbar spine strain is rated at 20 percent, effective August 11, 2014. His right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each granted initial 20 percent ratings, effective August 11, 2014 and April 29, 2019 respectively. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective November 15, 2012. His right foot fibromatosis and left foot fibromatosis are granted service connection. His bilateral hip strains are secondary to his knee and ankle disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and other conditions due to a lack of current diagnosis meeting DSM-5 criteria. The Veteran's claims were remanded multiple times but no new evidence was provided.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran needs a new medical opinion that considers his testimony and reports of noise exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction due to herbicide agents exposure, including as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The case is also remanded for a medical opinion on whether any current erectile dysfunction is related to military service or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination for bilateral hearing loss, and the Veteran should be afforded another examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as these conditions are not related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to insufficient reasons and bases in the previous decision, specifically regarding the definition of a 'significant threshold shift' and the basis for attributing in-service threshold shifts.