Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, headaches, left hip disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, erectile dysfunction, and dental decay. The remand requires additional examinations and evaluations for these conditions.

The Board denied the motion to revise an August 2005 rating decision that denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and labyrinthitis, finding no clear error of fact or law in the AOJ's determination.

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 Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied, while his claim for hemorrhoids as secondary to hypertension was granted. The Veteran received a 10 percent increased rating for sinusitis but the request for a higher rating in excess of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea with asthma was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA compensation purposes, and therefore service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the VA did not obtain a medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical strain and lumbar strain due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA opinions. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss remains denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss did not begin during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches, but dismissed the appeals related to other conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, additional development is needed before a decision can be made on the underlying merits of the case.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension remains pending.

The Board granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities for the period beginning May 25, 2021.

The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, while the appeals for diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities were remanded.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for bilateral knee, elbow, and ankle disabilities, as well as a bilateral hearing loss disability, due to inadequate medical evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need to address certain medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU based on a single service-connected disability was denied as there is insufficient evidence to substantiate that he is unemployable due solely to his GAD with cognitive disorder and TBI.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates, increased ratings, and service connection for various conditions, except for sleep apnea which was granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder), right hip disorder, right knee disorder, and right ankle disorder due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection will be granted if there is a current disability, an in-service injury or disease, and a nexus between the two.

The Veteran's unauthorized non-VA medical expenses incurred on July 21, 2022 for COVID pneumonia treatment were reimbursed as the care was emergent and a prudent layperson would have reasonably expected delay in seeking immediate medical attention to be hazardous. The service-connected disabilities aggravated by this care are also considered.