Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error in the VA audiological examination conducted prior to the June 2021 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are due to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure as a helicopter pilot.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error regarding the Veteran's service dates and type of service (active guard reserve, ACDUTRA, INACDUTRA). The claim will be returned for further development.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for right foot condition, left foot condition, insomnia, asthma, and left ear hearing loss as the Veteran did not timely file a Notice of Disagreement.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since October 2018. The Board granted a TDIU as of October 9, 2018.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, specifically whether it is related to service noise exposure or an early symptom of tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of right ear hearing loss was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for vision disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss due to pre-decisional errors in obtaining VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right hip condition with leg pain was denied due to lack of relevant evidence. The claim for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was granted as new and relevant evidence supported the diagnosis.,Service connection for major depressive disorder is denied, as there are no symptoms that meet the criteria for a 70% rating under Diagnostic Code 9434.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that it was incurred in service.,Bilateral hearing loss and PFB are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no current disability meeting the VA regulatory criteria.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss of the right ear and tinnitus are granted. The claim for hearing loss of the left ear is denied.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of an adequate VA examination, which relied solely on the absence of in-service hearing threshold shifts as proof that the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to active-duty service.

The Veteran's neck and back conditions are granted service connection, while bilateral hearing loss is denied. Service connection for a right leg condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the claim for hearing loss due to insufficient evidence in the October 2022 VA examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss and has not had one at any time during the pendency of the claim or recent to the filing of the claim. The Board also found that there is insufficient competent medical evidence on file for the Board to decide his claim regarding lower back pain with intervertebral disc disorder, thus remanding this issue.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable (zero percent), and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on the audiometric test results from May 2022.