Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.,The evidence shows that the Veteran experienced hearing loss during service and continues to have a valid diagnosis of tinnitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss due to lack of evidence supporting a nexus between her conditions and service. The claims are remanded for further development, including obtaining an adequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing disability.,Service connection for the right leg condition was also denied due to lack of evidence of a current disability and insufficient medical opinion linking it to service.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to February 19, 2021 were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not demonstrate a factually ascertainable increase in disability within one year prior to the date of claim.,The Veteran was granted service connection and increased ratings for TBI, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, scar on the right side of the head, and residuals headaches as of February 19, 2021. The Board denied claims for earlier effective dates.

The Veteran requested an earlier effective date for TDIU based on her service-connected conditions, but the AOJ denied this request. The Board is remanding the case to allow VA's Director of Compensation Service to consider whether extraschedular TDIU should be granted.

The Board has denied service connection for anxiety condition and hearing loss, but has remanded the issue of service connection for headaches due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not establish a nexus between the current conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claim for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy of all radicular groups and tinnitus was granted with an effective date of September 19, 2019.,However, the Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current diagnosis that meets VA criteria.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has found that the Veteran requires personal care services for a minimum of six continuous months based on need for supervision, protection, or instruction due to diagnosed conditions. However, additional development is needed to determine eligibility for PCAFC benefits under 38 CFR §71.20(a).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities at levels qualifying for VA compensation purposes.,Service connection for PTSD has not been established due to the lack of a diagnosis and insufficient medical examination, leading to remand. The Veteran's lower back strain and right knee strain are also being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is granted, but his bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board found the evidence in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's left ear hearing loss originated in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that may support his claim.

The Board has remanded the cases of left ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to a Court order addressing VA's failure to issue a rating decision pertaining to the January 2022 VA Administrative Decision regarding the Veteran's character of discharge.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not begin during service or within one year of separation, and is not related to in-service noise exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and has remanded the service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a pulmonary disability, bilateral hearing loss, and hemorrhoids were denied. The Board found that there was no in-service injury or incident related to the lungs or breathing, and his COPD is not linked to service. His bilateral hearing loss did not warrant an increased rating beyond 90 percent. His hemorrhoids were rated at the maximum schedular rating of 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating from April 20, 2022 to March 24, 2024 for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in February 2023.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a genitourinary disorder were both denied. The Board found no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology for the genitourinary disorder, and there was insufficient medical evidence to support a direct relationship between the current disability and service.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence in support of the Veteran's previously denied service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss, thus readjudicating it on the merits.