Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's tinnitus is assigned the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent under Diagnostic Code (DC) 6260.,The Veteran's left inguinal hernia repair does not more nearly approximate a post-operative recurrent inguinal hernia, readily reducible and well supported by a truss or belt, warranting a compensable rating.,The Veteran's posterior trunk scar, post lumbar surgery, and anterior trunk scar, status post hernia repair do not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating under DC 7802 due to their size and nature.,No effective date provided as this is a denial of claims.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions began during active service and have been continuous since then.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, sinus disorder, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is rated at noncompensable (0%) due to the lack of exceptional pattern of hearing impairment.,Tinnitus has been assigned a maximum schedular rating of 10% since the date of claim, and no higher rating is warranted as it does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent under DC 6260.,The Veteran's post-traumatic stress changes to both wrists are rated at 10%, which is the maximum schedular rating available. No higher rating is warranted based on the evidence of record.,Tinnitus has been granted service connection since July 31, 2019, and no earlier effective date is warranted as there was no pending or unadjudicated claim for tinnitus prior to that date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria for these conditions during the pendency of the claim. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's reported symptoms of tinnitus and his military noise exposure.

The Veteran is granted TDIU prior to July 3, 2019 due to service-connected disabilities. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as the symptoms are contemplated by the current rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits prior to July 5, 2018. The evidence did not provide a factually ascertainable date that entitlement to a TDIU arose prior to this date.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were denied. The decision granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and GERD but denied it for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's continuous symptoms since service meet the criteria for presumptive service connection. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in the December 2019 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and hemorrhoids due to a lack of Active Duty service treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right hand disability, low back disability, and psychiatric disability are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for SMC based on aid and attendance, finding that prior to November 5, 2018, he did not require regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes and hypertension have been denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within the applicable presumptive period.,Service connection has not been established for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no current disabilities for bilateral hearing loss, left wrist disability, right ankle disability, or patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee that meet VA criteria for compensation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 0 percent, the lowest possible rating. The VA determined that his hearing acuity does not warrant a higher rating based on the audiometric test results.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring additional development of evidence related to the Veteran's hearing loss claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected, but an earlier effective date prior to November 23, 2021, for the grant of service connection for left hand strain and pilonidal cyst is denied.,Tinnitus, otitis externa, inner ear disability, vertigo, depression, dementia, hypertension, and skin cancer are all remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA audiological opinion, and a new addendum opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service noise exposure.