Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and mast cell activation syndrome due to a lack of complete service personnel and treatment records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, while his claim for tinnitus was granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted with an effective date of January 5, 2009. The decision is based on the receipt of relevant service personnel records that were not previously associated with the claims file at the time of the April 2011 denial.

The Board has denied the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss but granted and remanded the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's request to readjudicate his right ear hearing loss claim is denied as there is no new and relevant evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board has remanded the issues of left hip strain, right hip strain, and gastrointestinal condition.

The Veteran's claims for migraine headaches, left leg shin splints, a left knee disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus have all been denied as there is no evidence of current conditions or service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip arthritis and status post right hip replacement, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss.,The Veteran's left hip arthritis is considered to have had its onset during active-duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, acne vulgaris and acne keloidalis nuchae, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from September 30, 2009 to March 28, 2019.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and the case is remanded for further action regarding TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss but remanded the issue of left ear hearing loss due to a lack of evidence in the record.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Veteran's hearing loss is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for an extra-schedular TDIU prior to January 31, 2018 is remanded due to insufficient evidence of unemployability by reason of service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as service connection due to reasonable doubt being resolved in his favor.,Right ear hearing loss remains denied, but the issue of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss is remanded for further development.,Entitlement to service connection for a skin condition affecting the left foot is granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a skin condition affecting the left foot is remanded for further development.,Bilateral pes planus (flat foot) remains denied, but the issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral pes planus is remanded for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus did not have their onset in service, were not manifested within one year of separation from service, and are not otherwise related to service. The evidence does not support a finding that these disabilities had their onset during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, chronic sinusitis, erosion of posterior medial maxillary sinuses, and bilateral hearing loss are denied. The Board found the evidence did not support a service connection claim for these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that it is consistent with hazardous noise exposure during active duty and continued after separation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a continuity of symptomatology related to his tinnitus since service and grants this claim. For the claim of bilateral hearing loss, the Board remands it due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of current disability meeting VA standards.