Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable (0 percent) since January 2018. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the Veteran's daily life experiences and challenges with understanding speech, despite his audiometric test results.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, bilateral foot disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and therefore service connection is denied.,The issue of entitlement to service connection for insomnia was granted as 'PTSD, claimed as insomnia,' in an August 2019 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran's assertions of noise exposure during service are not addressed in the current VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service, with a significant threshold shift observed during full-time service in the Air National Guard. Service connection for this condition is granted.,The Veteran reported tinnitus beginning around the early 1990s while serving full-time in the Air National Guard. The Board found that it was at least as likely as not caused by noise exposure during his military service, leading to a grant of service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The right ear hearing loss issue is being remanded for further development.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 18, 2020 for service-connected tinnitus. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, specifically noise exposure. An addendum opinion from a clinician must be obtained.

The Board has denied service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae due to a lack of current diagnosis.,Service connection is remanded for sleep apnea syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, right leg nerve damage, headaches, and neck disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to provide proper notice of the right to a pre-decisional hearing, and for further evidentiary development.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of October 2, 2020 for special monthly compensation based on housebound status is granted. The Veteran has a single disability rated as 100% disabling (coronary artery disease) and additional disabilities with combined ratings of at least 60%, meeting the criteria for housebound status.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence does not support a causal relationship between these conditions and military noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for atrial tachycardia and right ear hearing loss due to a failure to obtain relevant medical records and provide adequate VA examinations.

The Board has denied requests for earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, as there is no written evidence indicating an intent to file a claim prior to December 30, 2019.

The appeal for service connection of right ear hearing loss is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied because the evidence did not show the existence of a right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes. New and relevant evidence has not been received to warrant readjudication.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not have their onset in service or within a presumptive period. The evidence did not support a link between active-duty service and these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful occupation during the period of April 19, 2021, to December 6, 2022.

The Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation were denied as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria established by VA regulations.