Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus aggravated his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability, defined by VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with its previous remand instructions. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is pending and will be further developed.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) for the entire period on appeal, excluding a temporary total rating period from January 30, 2024, to February 29, 2024.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is granted. The claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, and prostate cancer are remanded.

The Veteran's death from Covid-19 is not service-connected as his conditions did not have their onset in service and were not related to any in-service injury or disease, including the service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's current right and left ear hearing loss disability is related to service noise exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss on a presumptive basis due to continuous symptoms since separation from service.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim of service connection for sinusitis due to insufficient consideration of evidence in the June 2019 decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted as new and relevant evidence has been submitted, and the private medical opinion supports a link between his current hearing loss and noise exposure in service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD), a neck disability, osteoarthritis of the right elbow (now claimed as a right arm disability), and right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus was rated at 10 percent disabling, and his left ear hearing loss did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and pes planus, make it impossible for him to maintain substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service noise exposure, which led to his current disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as zero percent disabling, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for service-connected prostate cancer is denied, and a separate noncompensable rating for erectile dysfunction as a result of service-connected prostate cancer is granted. SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ is also granted. The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted as new and relevant evidence has been submitted, and the private medical opinion supports a link between his current hearing loss and noise exposure in service.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for tinnitus and PTSD, but granted service connection for a left ankle disability manifesting as pain and an initial rating of 100 percent for PTSD from April 8, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not demonstrate a current disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral fallen arches and flatfoot, shin splints, surgery residuals, high blood pressure, and scar formation as the Veteran did not report for scheduled VA examinations.,Service connection was also denied for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing a current disability.