Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to an inadequate VA medical opinion in November 2023. The claim will be reconsidered with a new examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, lower back pain (claimed as back condition), and tinnitus due to the Veteran's withdrawal of all issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral hearing loss, which is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as the timeliness of the May 10, 2024 Notice of Disagreement.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for a right ankle disability is denied.,Service connection for a left foot disability is denied.,Service connection for a left hand disability is denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety) is denied.,Service connection for a back disability is denied.,Service connection for right side sciatica is denied.,Service connection for left side sciatica is denied.,Service connection for a skin rash is denied.,Service connection for a right leg disability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, right ear hearing loss, and vertigo have been denied. The claim for sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during or proximate to the appeal period.,Right ear hearing loss was also denied due to lack of qualifying hearing loss disability in the right ear at any time during or proximate to the appeal period.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo has been remanded. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's vertigo.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's separation exam did not show any issues with hearing loss.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for sensorineural bilateral hearing loss is granted at a 40 percent rating prior to May 9, 2017. The increased disability rating from May 9, 2017, to May 15, 2018, is granted at a 70 percent rating. A higher rating of over 90 percent for the period after May 15, 2018, is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy/neuropathy, neck disorder, back disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection was granted for tinnitus. The Veteran served in an environment with exposure to hazardous noise from jet engines.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all issues appealed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The claims for sleep apnea and hearing loss have been remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the service connection for left knee, right knee, right ear hearing loss, thoracolumbar spine, and peptic ulcer disabilities before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, resulting in a net award of $18,342.78 to the Veteran. The appellant is eligible for direct payment of attorney fees based on this amount.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The AOJ needs to obtain a VA examination to clarify whether his service-connected disabilities cause him to require the need for regular aid and attendance of another.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma was granted. The claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the claim for service connection for lower back condition is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of various disabilities, including hearing loss, psychiatric conditions, sleep apnea, GERD, ulcers, prostate issues, hyperlipidemia, neck, back, ankle, elbow, eye glaucoma, foot, hip, shoulder, wrist, and knee disabilities are being remanded due to incomplete records and need for further development.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating during the appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing disability in accordance with VA regulations.